Lakers Take Home their 17th NBA Finals Victory in Honor of Kobe Bryant

The Los Angeles Lakers mad history last night, defeating the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, winning the best-of-seven series four games to two. Lebron James is the first player in NBA history to earn NBA Finals MVP with three different teams. Only Michael Jordan has more NBA Finals MVP awards, with six.

It’s the 17th title for the franchise, tying the Lakers with the Boston Celtics for the most all time in NBA history. The NBA team dedicated their NBA Finals victory to the late Kobe Bryant, whose death in a helicopter crash in January united and motivated the team in a year full of challenges.

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others died in the crash near Los Angeles, sending shockwaves through the NBA world and beyond.

“Ever since the tragedy, we wanted to do it for him, and we didn’t want to let him down,” Anthony Davis, who was Bryant’s team mate on the 2012 Olympic team, said after Sunday’s Game Six victory over the Miami Heat. Davis continued, “I know he’s looking down on us and proud of us, I know (Bryant’s wife) Vanessa is proud of us, the organization is proud of us. It means a lot to us. He was a big brother to all of us and we did this for him.”

Late in Sunday’s game the players could be heard breaking the huddle with the cry of “One, two, three, Mamba!” referring to Bryant’s nickname.

Team President Jeanie Buss acknowledged the bittersweet nature of celebrating the franchise’s first title since 2010 without Bryant, who took home the Finals MVP honors that year.

“To Lakers nation, we have been through a heartbreaking tragedy with the loss of our beloved Kobe Bryant and Gianna,” she said, “Let this trophy serve as a reminder of when we come together, believe in each other, incredible things can happen.”

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Photo Credit: Sgt. Joseph A. Lee