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When the ball is tipped in Game 1, 28 players will have started alongside LeBron James in the NBA Finals. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — This week, LeBron James will play in his 10th NBA Finals , a statistic that is both mind-boggling and insufficient, like saying Claude Monet created more than 2,000 paintings or Agatha Christie wrote at least 78 books. James has been the best player on all 10 of those Finals teams. He has made it to the Finals for five head coaches, four of whom never even made the playoffs without him. But maybe the stat that we should sip and swirl around our mouths, like a glass of fine wine, is this one: When the ball is tipped in Game 1, 28 players will have started alongside LeBron James in the NBA Finals. Twenty-eight. Some context: Nine players started alongside Michael Jordan in the Finals. Seventeen started alongside Kobe Bryant, 15 started alongside Tim Duncan and 19 started alongside Shaquille O’Neal. The statistics should not be used to reach a verdict in a...

LeBron James has one of the most impressive resumes in NBA history, but would a Lakers' title be his most impressive accomplishment? How will the Heat's young players handle the moment? Sports Illustrated senior writer Chris Mannix previews the NBA Finals. So here we are, a year after teams reported to training camp, set to finish the wildest, most unpredictable season in NBA history . Many expected the Lakers to be here, with LeBron James teaming up with Anthony Davis to form one of the league’s most feared duos. Fewer would have bet on the Heat , a team that, like L.A., missed the playoffs last season and entered this one with a lot of unproven talent. But here we are, with James looking to knock off (one of) his former teams, with Miami looking to complete one of the most remarkable post-dynasty rebuilds in recent memory. What to look for in this series? Let’s try to answer some questions. Will there be an asterisk attached to this championship? No. Hell no. It was o...

Author Jeff Pearlman joined SI's Robin Lundberg for an inside look at his new book The Lakers have returned to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. In Jeff Pearlman's new book Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty, he breaks down the Shaq, Kobe, and Phil Jackson era of the Los Angeles Lakers. Author Jeff Pearlman joined SI's Robin Lundberg for an inside look at his new book.  Read more of SI's Daily Covers stories here

A make-up date for the "Battle of the Belt" has not been set. Saturday's Troy-South Alabama game at Hancock Whitney Stadium has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within the Jaguars' program. South Alabama announced the postponement is "due to precautionary measures concerning the availability of student athletes." The Jaguars will also pause workouts on a temporary basis. A make-up date for the "Battle of the Belt" has not been set, and both schools with work with the Sun Belt Conference to reschedule. "This postponement is unfortunate, however, it's prudent and wise. Our most significant concern is the well-being of our student-athletes," South Alabama director of athletics Joel Erdmann said in a statement. "We are looking forward to hosting Troy at Hancock Whitney Stadium at a date to be determined. We appreciate the collaboration and understanding of Troy and the leadership of the Sun Belt Conference office in worki...

It has been a long time coming, but the NBA Finals are set, with the Miami Heat taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. But what are the keys to victory for each team? Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg discussed with SI's Ben Pickman and "The Fantasy Exec" Corey Parson to determine which factors will determine who hoists the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

Andre Iguodala's impact may be easy to miss in the box scores, but it's always there. Here is why he will be important in Miami's goal to stop LeBron James and the Lakers. The Heat are set to square off against the Lakers in the 2020 Finals this week, and while L.A. may be entering the series as the heavy favorite, Miami’s bench turned viewers’ heads away from just Tyler Herro and additionally onto Andre Iguodala. With the Heat clinching the Eastern Conference finals , Iguodala marked his sixth consecutive year of reaching the NBA Finals and was a big factor in doing so. The veteran forward posted 15 points, three rebounds, an assist and two steals off the bench in the team’s win against the Celtics. He was also 4-for-4 on three-point attempts. Iguodala was 7-for-27 in playoff threes before Game 6 and averaged a career low of 4.6 points and 2.4 assists off the bench per game since the start of the 2019–20 season. However, his offensive and defensive force on Monday ni...

Following a collapse after leading the Denver Nuggets 3-1 in their playoff series, Doc Rivers is out as Los Angeles Clippers head coach. But what happened behind the scenes and who could take over in LA? Plus, will Doc be coaching next season? Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg discussed with SI senior writer Chris Mannix.