Image Source: NBA.com
[Saba Sports News] While the headline in Southern Nevada on Tuesday was Davante Adams’ trade from the Raiders to the Jets, it was the Lakers’ annual preseason game against the Warriors that captivated 16,907 fans at T-Mobile Arena.
LeBron James’ warm-up dunks and signature chalk toss set the tone, and his two-handed dunk early in the first quarter had the crowd roaring.
Though the Lakers fell 111-97 to the Warriors, the buzz was undeniable as the NBA returned to Vegas, if only for a night.
Lakers coach JJ Reddick praised Las Vegas, noting its growing reputation as a sports city, home to teams like the Golden Knights, the Aces, and the Raiders. Courtside, WNBA star Dearica Hamby and her daughter, along with teammate Rae Burrell, cheered on the game.
“The city shows up when there’s basketball in Vegas,” Hamby said. Burrell, a Vegas native, reflected on the city’s sports legacy, recalling a time when sports were just beginning to thrive off the Strip.
The NBA’s ties to Vegas go back to 1983-84, when the Utah Jazz hosted games at UNLV, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring record there in 1984. The Lakers began playing preseason games in Vegas in 1988, and the city hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2007. Now a staple, the NBA Summer League has drawn fans since 2007.
Looking to the future, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has hinted at Vegas as a potential expansion city. Warriors star Draymond Green believes the city’s appeal will only grow, comparing its current sports allure to its classic entertainment days. “Vegas will always be Vegas,” Green said. “Its legend only grows.”