2020 NBA Finals Game 6 vs Miami Heat

Lore & Background

The Lakers were the No. 1 seed in the West, while the Heat were No. 5 in the East, becoming the third-lowest seed to advance to the Finals. This was the first NBA Finals matchup between the two teams, and the first time that Finals participants had both missed the playoffs in the previous season. The Finals were originally scheduled for June, but the season was suspended in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The games were played in the NBA Bubble at Walt Disney World behind closed doors at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Bay Lake, Florida, from September 30 through October 11.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers' LeBron James was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the fourth time in his career. He became the first and only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP with three different franchises (two with the Heat, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and one with the Lakers). He won the Finals MVP award in a unanimous 11–0 vote by leading his team in points, rebounds, and assists for the entire series, after averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game on 59% shooting. Lakers president Jeanie Buss became the first female controlling owner to guide her team to an NBA title.

Did You Know?

• The Lakers became the first and only team in NBA history to be undefeated in a season when leading entering the fourth quarter, going a combined 57–0 record in the regular season and playoffs.
• LeBron James and teammate Danny Green jointly became the third players to win the NBA Finals with three different teams.
• The 2020 Finals was the latest to begin (beating the 1999 edition which began on June 16) and the first one played in September and October, and as well held in the fall.