According to some Los Angeles Lakers fans, LeBron James’ time with the team has been a disappointment.
L.A. has missed the playoffs twice in James’ four years there and was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last year.
However, James’ Laker tenure cannot be called a failure: He led the team to the NBA championship in 2020.
Although it took place inside the bubble, it came rather easily, and the Lakers looked like a team that was destined to win it all for the entire season.
During a recent Q&A session on Twitter, James was asked what his fondest memory of his time with the Lakers is, and most would’ve expected him to pick something he personally did, especially given his reputation among some as a diva who only cares about himself.
But he instead picked the greatest moment of his first mate as a member of the Purple and Gold.
AD hitting that game winner vs Denver in the WCF!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 17, 2022
In Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against a Denver Nuggets team that featured Nikola Jokic, who is now a two-time MVP winner, and rising star Jamal Murray, L.A. looked like it was in trouble.
Trailing 103-102 with 2.1 seconds left, the Lakers inbounded the ball, and a miscommunication among multiple Nuggets players allowed Anthony Davis to pop out to the 3-point line uncovered.
He took the inbounds pass and delivered the game-winning dagger at the buzzer.
— Carson Cottrell (@cottrell_carson) May 17, 2022
Right after hitting the shot, it appeared Davis mouthed the word “Kobe” while heading to the sideline.
The Lakers had dedicated the season to Kobe Bryant’s memory after he was killed in a helicopter crash along with eight others in January that year, and they served his memory well by winning it all.