LAS VEGAS (AP) — While the biggest sports news circulating 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 preseason visit, overlooking the Warriors of the Golden Stateand as usual there was plenty of electricity.

A pair of warm-up dunks from LeBron James, followed by his patented pre-game chalk throw, created some excitement.

James’ failed attempt at a windmill dunk in less than three minutes drew some reaction from the crowd before his two-handed stuff drew a roar of approval at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter.

The NBA had returned, even if it was just for one night.

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

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

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Burrell says 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 was really The Strip – and sports,” Burrell said. “If you played sports, you basically knew everyone in Vegas. So seeing it all come to life and all these teams being added, I know the city is 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 then-leading scorer in NBA history and Wilt’s 31,419 points Chamberlain at UNLV’s Thomas. and Mack Center.

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

The NBA Summer League has been a Las Vegas staple since 2007, with games played on UNLV’s campus.

“Vegas, we just love our sport. Even during the national anthem, you could hear the (NHL’s Golden) Knights fans singing the part where they say “NIGHT!” shouted. I mean, it’s just amazing,” Burrell said. “There is always so much support in Las Vegas. So just having preseason games and tournament games during the season in Vegas, and adding things like that, just shows the support that there is in Vegas. So I just love it, and I think it’s just going to get better and better.

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

With the impending expansion of the league, which would make the NBA a regular night out every season, Hamby doesn’t see the appeal of Las Vegas diminishing.

“I mean, there’s always so much going on. People come here all year round, so I think you’re always going to have a different kind of crowd,” said Hamby, the 2024 Associated Press Most Improved Player. “Obviously you have the locals, but then you also have tourists and stuff that come from all over the world to watch matches here.”

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