LAS VEGAS.- “It works!”. LeBron James gave his approval the first time NBA Cupwhich will culminate with the final phase that started on Thursday in Las Vegasa city in mourning for the shooting that left at least three dead on a university campus this Wednesday.
Since the beginning of the season, the NBA has gone to great lengths to promote its new competition and especially the semifinals and final, which will be held Thursday and Saturday in the capital of the game, without suspecting that its launch would have a darker note.
At noon Wednesday, a gunman killed three people before being shot dead by police on the campus of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (UNLV), just three kilometers from the T-Mobile field, where the teams that will compete for the title were already installed.
James, leader of the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the most respected voices in American sports, sent his condolences “to the families who have lost their loved ones” before once again demanding greater control of firearms in his country.
“The ability to get a gun, to do these things over and over again, and there has been no change, It is literally ridiculous (…) It makes no sense that we continue to lose innocent lives on campuses, schools, markets, cinemas… It’s actually easier to own a gun now.. “It’s stupid,” cried ‘King James’, who is still in his best shape about to turn 39.
In a country sadly familiar with this type of violence, with more than 600 mass shootings so far this year, according to figures from the Gun Violence Archive, preparations for the NBA Cup They continued in the heart of the emblematic Strip avenue and its renowned casinos.
On Thursday, the Lakers face the Pelicans and the Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Pacers in the semifinals of this tournament that NBA I had been planning for years to give more excitement and competitiveness to the first months of the season.
Correct decision by the NBA:
Despite initial reservations about a possible lack of involvement of the players, the bet of the NBA has produced results, according to the organizers, who are satisfied with the ratings and with the intensity of the quarterfinal matches earlier this week, which was reminiscent of the playoff ties.
“It’s working! Adam Silver (the commissioner of the NBA) is a genius, it’s simple,” James acknowledged.
“It’s excellent. We have to admit that normally we are a little sleepy watching regular season games at this time of year,” agreed his coach, Darwin Ham.
Source: AFP
