Basketball was dominated by the LA Lakers in 2020 as they claimed their first NBA title in 10 years. Boasting a talented roster led by allstars Lebron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers saw off all comers in the Western Conference to finish as the number one seeded team in the playoffs.
Usual powerhouses Golden State Warriors were plagued with long term injuries to Klay Thompson and Steph Curry and ended the season with the League’s worst record. They failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and missed the NBA finals for the first time since 2014, ending a run of five consecutive Finals appearances.
Defending Champions Toronto Raptors failed to reach the heights of the previous season after trading Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers. Perennial contenders Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics also suffered inconsistent campaigns, paving the way for Lebron and co. to cruise to another ring.
Somewhere in the middle of all of this, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was named regular season MVP for the second straight year. He also won the defensive player of the year award after leading the Bucks to the number one seed in the East
As with everything else in 2020, basketball was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the NBA suspended in March. Five months later, the regular season was completed without fans in a bubble in Florida.
Despite the lengthy break in the season, the Lakers never missed a beat as they carried their impressive form into the playoffs. Their season culminated in a 4-2 series win over the Miami Heat, who were making their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2014.
The basketball world was also rocked by some sad news at the start of the year following the tragic passing of ex-Laker Kobe Bryant. The former MVP, considered one of the greatest ever in the sport, was killed in a tragic helicopter crash back in January.
The Lakers dedicated the remainder of their season to the memory of their legendary superstar, with their triumph seen as a fitting tribute to the man who spent his entire career wearing the purple and gold and leading the Franchise to five NBA titles.
