On Saturday night, the Lakers’ locker room was brimming with champagne.
LeBron James started the party in Las Vegas after his Lakers defeated the Pacers, 123-109, to win the inaugural In-Season Tournament.
In social media videos, the 38-year-old James can be seen cracking a bottle of champagne and spraying it around the locker room with his colleagues.
“We made history,” James stated following the victory. “You take it whenever you’re on the right side of history.” The Los Angeles Lakers won the first In-Season Tournament. That will never be surpassed. Ever.”
James finished the championship game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists to become the first-ever MVP of the In-Season Tournament.
Anthony Davis led the team with 41 points, 20 rebounds, and five assists in the championship game, and head coach Darvin Ham praised the combination as “a hell of a one-two punch.”
“On any given night, that one or two could be either of them.” “At the end of the day,” Ham added, “they know how to take it to the next level when everything is on the line.”
The Lakers, who are 14-9 this season, drank from the NBA Cup as the post-game celebrations continued.
In addition to the trophy, Lakers players will receive $500,000 for winning the tournament. Those on two-way contracts will only get half.
On Sunday, his eldest son, USC freshman Bronny James, is slated to play in his debut game for the Trojans, capping off an already historic weekend for James.
Bronny, 19, went into cardiac arrest in July while practicing at USC.
In late November, he was cleared for a full return.
On Sunday, the Trojans will face the Long Beach State 49ers.