The Lakers' annual preseason game in Las Vegas excites the potential NBA market

LAS VEGAS (AP) — While the biggest sports news breaking across Southern Nevada on Tuesday began with Davante Adamas is traded From the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets, it didn't seem to matter to the announced crowd of 16,907 at T-Mobile Arena.

The Los Angeles Lakers were in town for their annual pre-season visit and stood in front of the Golden State Warriorsand as usual there was plenty of electricity.

A few warm-up dunks from LeBron James, followed by his patented pregame chalk toss, tipped the scales.

James' failed attempt at a windmill dunk in less than three minutes drew some reaction from the crowd before his two-handed throw at 7:15 of the first quarter drew widespread praise.

The NBA had returned, if only for one night.

“It's incredible, you know, that they don't get that experience outside very often Aces Basketball“So to speak,” WNBA star Dearica Hamby said at halftime. “I think the city shows up when given the opportunity to support basketball in Las Vegas.”

Hamby sat courtside behind the Warriors' bench along with his daughter Amaya and Los Angeles Sparks teammate Rae Burrell, while undefeated super lightweight Emiliano Vargas sat directly behind James on the Lakers' bench.

Burrell, who was born and raised in Las Vegas, said she remembers growing up around non-residents and thinking her hometown was nothing more than the famous Strip and the historic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.

“But it really was The Strip — and sports,” Burrell said. “If you were in sports, you kind of knew everyone in Vegas. When I see everything coming to life and all these teams coming in, I know the city is just so excited.”

It goes back even further than Burrell's childhood, as the marriage between the Lakers and Las Vegas arguably began on April 5, 1984, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the leading scorer in NBA history at the time and Wilt Chamberlain's 31,419 points beat UNLV's Thomas surpassed and Mack Center.

The Lakers then began playing preseason games in Las Vegas in 1988. In 2007, when the NBA All-Star Game was held in Las Vegas, the late Kobe Bryant was named MVP after leading the Western Conference to victory.

The NBA Summer League has been a fixture in Las Vegas since 2007, with games played on the UNLV campus.

“Vegas, we just love our sport. Even during the national anthem, fans of the (NHL's Golden) Knights could be heard singing the part where they shouted “NIGHT!” I mean, it’s just unbelievable,” Burrell said. “There’s just always so much support in Las Vegas. Just having the preseason games and the in-season tournament games in Las Vegas and adding those things just shows the support that there is in Las Vegas. I just think it’s great and I think it just keeps getting better.”

Although a formal process is years away at the earliest, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned Las Vegas and Seattle when discussing expansion in July.

With the league's impending expansion that would make the NBA a regular event every season, Hamby doesn't think the allure of Las Vegas is waning.

“I mean, there’s just always so much going on. People come here all year round, so I think there will always be a different crowd,” said Hamby, the 2024 Associated Press Most Improved Player. “Of course there will be locals, but then there will be tourists and other people as well from all over the world who come here to watch the games.”

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