Nearly a decade ago, a superstar from Akron, Ohio named LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, and joined the Miami Heat, leaving behind the Cleveland Cavaliers to pursue a title in Florida and shocking the sporting universe.

After all the hype and media gushing about the NBA’s first “super team,” the Heat lost to a bunch of old guys and we were left questioning the King’s greatness. But James and the Heat bounced back in great fashion, and ultimately LeBron left Miami with two rings.

He graciously returned home to Cleveland, promising his beloved hometown that he would lead their dismal sports city to a championship. And in 2016 he did just that, taking down the greatest regular season team to walk planet Earth thanks to an unforgettable 3-1 series comeback capped by a three by Kyrie Irving, guaranteeing James and those Cavs would live on in Cleveland, and NBA lore, forever.

Now James is a Laker; the league’s most polarizing name and its most storied franchise. When he signed two years ago, he told Laker Nation and the basketball world he hoped to return the purple and gold to their former glory after several years of futility.

And despite his aging body, mutterings that he simply made the move to LA to make movies and retire peacefully, the tragic death of the most beloved Laker ever, a global pandemic, and a classic cavalcade of Laker drama throughout, he’s done just that.

And who else would meet LeBron James in what could be his last crack at an NBA title than the team he won his first with. A truly poetic scenario to unfold Wednesday night in the Orlando bubble.

The Lakers christened each of their Western Conference foes with a gentleman’s sweep, leaving little to doubt and commanding control of each series.

The Miami Heat have done the same, dominating each of their series behind a well-balanced diet of veteran presences like Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala, young three-point flamethrowers Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, and their fearless and, delightfully weird captain, Jimmy Butler. Not to mention utility all-star Bam Adebayo.

The Heat play with incredible pace, unbreakable confidence, and stellar defense. This year looks as good as any to be their year.

But this is the Lakers’ championship to lose.

The Lakers have been there every step of the way since the league’s existence.

After its inaugural year in 1947, the Lakers won 5 of the NBA’s first 10 championships.

In the 60’s the Celtics utter dominance was something the league will never see again, but from 1960-1970, the Lakers made 7 of those 10 Finals, they just never won one in that era.

From 1970-1980, the Lakers punched home two more, and I’ll let the Showtime Lakers speak for themselves in regards to the 80’s.

And after somewhat of a drop off in the 90’s, the Lakers greeted the 2000’s with a three peat to start it, and back-to-back titles to end it.

And as a crazy COVID-19 season that the NBA has never seen before come to a close, isn’t it fitting that the Lakers are favorited to win it all here in 2020. The Laker beat just keeps on bumping, 73 fuckin’ years later.

Amazing.

Rather than dabble into the matchups, the keys to the series, and all that other stuff I hope to write about until I’m old and grey, I wanted to just take it all in for a second before Game 1. This year has been a shit-show for all of us in different ways, and I’m no stranger to shortcomings whether the world is sick or on fire or not. But the NBA’s return has been one of the few bright spots for me during year in which darkness seemed to overwhelm anything positive for me, and to that I say:

God bless the NBA. God bless LeBron James. And God bless the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sports forever. Enjoy the Finals.

Cheers.