While in Las Vegas, you’re more likely to take $100.00 out of your wallet, throw it down on a roulette table, and tell the dealer “black.” But then the tiny ivory Delrin ball lands on a red number, not a black number. The dealer picks your money up off the table, stashes it away, and you stand there stunned. Essentially you could’ve taken that $100.00, crumpled it up, and tossed it in the trash, both transactions would’ve taken around the same amount of time and ended with the same result—you’re worth $100.00 less.
That’s the Vegas effect. Here, people are compelled to act on instincts and follow their desires, not deny them, because “what ifs” hang in the air of every casino, they’re thicker than the cigar and cigarette smoke that swirl around them. In Vegas, everyone holds onto the idea of the possibility; they squeeze it so tight, and sometimes it slips through their hands like sand, sometimes it doesn't—that’s the beauty of it—possibility— everyone wants it, but not everyone can have it.
Before something happens, it exists only as a possibility; before it becomes real. And Possibility is the perfect word to describe the energy around the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament Championship in Las Vegas.
A little more than a month ago, making NBA history was a possibility for all 30 teams, a month later it was a possibility for only eight, and then before this past Saturday night, a possibility for two undefeated teams.
It became real at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hours later when gold flecks of streamers adorned the vibrant red and blue court the Lakers team stood on. The Los Angeles Lakers will go down in basketball history as the first team to win the NBA’s In-Season tournament after defeating the Indiana Pacers, 123-109. Each Laker stood there grinning. There wasn’t a grimacing glare in sight, which was a change in tone from twenty minutes prior while the competition was still ensuing.
For 48 minutes, the arena was dimly lit, like in Los Angeles, but still different. Lakers Legend, Shaquille O’Neal sat courtside by the Purple and Gold’s bench. ESPN Analyst, Richard Jefferson sported a glossy black suit and matching bow tie similar to that of a blackjack dealer. Basketball icon, Julius Erving (Dr. J) watched alongside Mitch Richmond and NFL star Ahmad Rashad, along with members of the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces.
For a while, it seemed like the majority of fans in attendance were trending more towards LA. When asked by the in-arena host before tip, “Who’s got the Lakers?” The crowd erupted. And then with 3:42 to go in the third, a “let’s go Lakers” chant, reminiscent of the home arena, broke out as the guys led 82-73. But suddenly, with 10:30 to go in the final frame, the crowd roared off a Pacers’ steal followed by a two-pointer, shrinking the deficit to 92-89.
The entire game felt like watching a race where there was a sure frontrunner, but then again there was another runner staying closer right behind first place’s shoulder, a runner who could rip away on the final lap if they wanted.
The competition was intense and uncomfortable even though the young Pacer team only led by as much as three and Los Angeles was having their way with them in the paint. You never want to let the number one offense in the league hang in there for too long, especially after the Lakers didn’t hit a three until the third quarter. In both sports and Vegas, there’s no sure thing.
But maybe the closest thing to a sure thing was Anthony Davis's face with 6:35 to go in the game. The face he made is the stuff of what locker room speeches and hype videos are made of. He had just blocked a shot on the defensive end when Cam Reddish followed up with a dunk to put the Lakers up 102-96. The look plastered across his face in response was that of the look Leonidas had on day three of the Battle of Thermopylae. His brow furrowed, his nostrils flared, and his teeth were grinding. Even after the big fella had a season-high 41 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks it was this look that instilled an alarming assurance in Lakers fans.
The emotional performance by Davis was part of a one-two punch that put the KO in the Knockout Round. Two nights before, it was LeBron who was throwing haymakers in the Lakers’ 133-89 win against the New Orleans Pelicans. In 23 minutes, James became the first player in NBA History with 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in under 23 minutes. The chronic record-breaker created his own category. And the duo’s performance in seven games garnered them spots on the 2023 All-Tournament Team. Davis led the tournament in rebounds with 102 and placed second for blocks with 20. And the oldest player in the league finished as MVP with an IST-high of +116 plus/minus, and 67 made field goals, more than any other player.
In the context of possibility, it’s impossible to figure out how LeBron is still playing like he’s 2013 LeBron, none of it makes any logical sense. And instead of dissecting the facts and numbers and habits, it feels like more and more people have simply resorted to asking LeBron himself: How are you still the basketball player you are?
“Because of my youngins over here, my rookies, my second-year guys,” he explained after being crowned IST MVP. “Some of them haven’t experienced playoff basketball, some of their paychecks are not as equipped as some of the older guys on this team, and then some of our fans during the December and January months, they kind of stall out a little bit, so I felt like it was my obligation and my responsibility to keep everybody engaged including my teammates, including our fans for our beautiful sport, so that’s why I was locked in from day one.”
In addition to going down in history, each member of the team will receive $500,000. Rookie Maxwell Lewis danced and sang from the sound of the buzzer into the locker room where Biggie Smalls blared. “I’m gonna lose my voice,” Lewis declared with a full smile. And LeBron joked about how as he immediately stepped off the court when the game wasn’t leaving their grasp, he was asked by one of the young guys, “when do we get our money?”
Austin Reaves, who was experiencing flu-like symptoms before the game but decided to tough it out and play, contributed a career-high 22 first-half points. When he sat down for the post-game, presser he let out a deep exhale and looked a little gray despite throwing up 28. “It means a lot to bring light to kids that had the same situation as I did growing up, being from a small town of 1,100 people, not a lot of people leave.” He said of his achievements so far in the NBA. “They graduate high school and might go to college and stay there, and basically just work their whole life there, find a job around the town that you live in. But just being able to show kids that it’s possible to chase your dreams. Regardless of what your dream is, don’t let anybody tell you that it’s not possible.” Austin also mentioned with a laugh how he’s probably going to take the money and join a lavish golf course around LA. It’s unclear if he was joking or not.
And while nobody is disappointed about the 500K, playing as dominantly as the Lakers did didn’t come down to the money.
“I don’t even think it’s about the money,” LeBron said. “I think it’s about us coming together and winning this thing. This is the inauguration of the In-Season Tournament, it’s something. Like records will be broken but one thing that will never be broken is being the first to do something. We’re the first champions of the In-Season Tournament and nobody can ever top that. And it’s great to be able to do it with such a historical franchise and it’s even better to do it with such a great, great cast of just funny,” Bron paused, and a big smile appeared on his face, “engaged, competitive men over here.”
After everyone left the court, they arrived in a room with blue goggles and champagne bottles. LeBron grabbed the goggles laid out for the team. As he lifted them over his head, he said, “They ain’t never done this before, I don’t know if these young boys know about this,” as he shook the champagne bottle, popped the cork, and sprayed his teammates in celebration.
This wasn’t Title 18; it wasn’t an NBA Championship. It was a closer look at who this team is, who they could be, and all the possibilities that lie ahead of them.