BREAKING NEWS: NBA cancels season, crowns Lakers as champs; LeBron wins 5th MVP
The NBA is set to cancel the remainder of the 2019–2020 season and crown the Los Angeles Lakers as the champions, according to sources close to the office of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. An official announcement is expected later today.
When the season was suspended last March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lakers had the second-best record in the league at 49–14 behind the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks had a 53–12 record and a league-best +11.2 point differential, which would have ranked 5th all-time. The Lakers had a +7.2 point differential, followed by the Clippers and Raptors with +6.5.
Despite the Bucks’ better winning percentage and vastly superior point differential, sources claim that Silver believed that the Lakers’ wins over the Bucks and Clippers right before the NBA suspended its games were “very impressive” and “proved that they were the best team on the planet.” Sources add that Silver considered having a three-round Playoffs with the top four teams of each conference participating but ultimately decided against it because the “Lakers would have won anyway.”
The Lakers and Bucks split their season series, while the Clippers led 2–1 before the season was suspended. “What better way to honor Kobe’s legacy than giving the Lakers Nation what they deserve,” said a source familiar with Silver’s decision-making process.
The NBA is also expected to award the MVP to LeBron James, who averaged 25.7 points per game and a league-best 10.6 assists per game. The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo finished second, followed by Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite not leading his own team in points, rebounds, blocks, steals, PER, and win shares, LeBron will take home his 5th MVP award because the “narrative dictated it” and “he deserved it,” sources say. “This is a guy who should have been the MVP each of the last 10 seasons,” said Rich Paul of Klutch Sports who was present at the Zoom meeting with Silver.
Antetokounmpo was favored to win his second consecutive MVP award until the season was abruptly suspended. He was having a historically great statistical season, and handily led LeBron in practically every catch-all advanced metric. In terms of raw numbers, Antetokounmpo was also ahead in scoring, rebounding and blocks. He shot a higher percentage from the field and had both a higher true shooting percentage and effective field goal percentage.
Meanwhile, Anthony Davis, who led the Lakers in all major statistical categories except assists and had been the anchor of a much-improved Lakers defense, was conspicuously missing in the MVP consideration. Paul, who was instrumental in Davis’ trade to the Lakers last year, said “AD had a great season but he will have to be content with the DPOY. He wouldn’t be where he is without LeBron.”
Sources within LeBron’s camp say he plans to address the public in a special Wednesday edition of Taco Tuesday. They say that LeBron is thankful and ecstatic about the impending announcement. He has privately told his entourage that the “GOAT debate is dead as a horse” after winning his 4th title with a third different franchise. Michael Jordan won all his titles with the Chicago Bulls, a franchise which had not won any title prior to drafting him in 1984 and has not won any since he left in 1998. Jordan’s last championship is the subject of ESPN’s 10-part documentary titled “The Last Dance,” which will be released on April 19. The documentary series chronicles the 1997–1998 championship team where Scottie Pippen struggled in the Finals due to a bad back and Dennis Rodman was making professional wrestling appearances in between Finals games.
Several NBA players and personalities reacted to the news on social media. Lakers legend Magic Johnson twitted: “Congratulations #LakeShow!!!
№17 baby! 💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍💍”. Kyle Kuzma posted: “WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!! LAKER NATION!! @KingJames YOU TRULY ARE THE ONE TRUE 🐐”.
Others were more critical of the league’s decision. The typically reserved Leonard initially twitted: “Let us play mof*ckers! We all know @KingJames is scared of me!” He has since deleted the tweet and posted a more sober message: “I feel you brother @AntDavis23. Disrespected and underappreciated. That’s why I didn’t want to join the @Lakers”. The Nets’ Kevin Durant also chimed in: “@AntDavis23 you the Real @Lakers MVP”.
This is a developing story…
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If you didn’t catch the bold letters, then HAPPY APRIL FOOLS!
