Often, many people use sports as an analogy for life. However, I believe basketball is one of the best sports to gain life lessons. There are so many lessons about teamwork, playing offense and defense, and the ability to shift the momentum of the game that can be applied to life. I felt there were at least seven lessons that we can take from this game to help anyone on their path to greatness and win in life.

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat for the 2020 Championship. It was a game that had meaning on so many different levels. One of those reasons being that this is the year of the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. The pressure for the Lakers to perform was higher than usual because there were so many new fans around the world who wanted the Lakers to win this year for Kobe. As I watched the game in anticipation, there were seven lessons I learned from the Lakers game, particularly watching Lebron James, that I wanted to share with you.

Here are the seven lessons I learned from watching this championship game.

1. Be a Leader
2. Be Disciplined
3. Be Focused
4. Be a Finisher
5. Be a promise keeper
6. Be attractive to talent
7. Be your role

Be A Leader

You cannot deny that this series was won due to the leadership of Lebron James. My favorite quote by John Maxwell, “every organization rises and fall on leadership.” Despite heavy criticism, Lebron James decided to be the leader. He stepped up when it was time help the Lakers win the championship. If we want to the win in our lives, we must becomes leaders. We cannot wait for someone else to step up, we must step up and be a leader in our own lives.

Your greatness is in your leadership. How well you lead yourself and others will define your greatness. If you are looking to become great, look at your leadership.

Be Disciplined

Discipline is something that every self-help coach teaches about to its followers. However, the point I want to make about discipline is about the timing of discipline. Lakers didn’t get ready to be a championship team starting on yesterday. They discipline themselves all year long, even when the NBA was on recess. They had to continue to workout and perform in practice to prepare themselves to win. When Kobe died the pressure for the Lakers to perform was even higher, however, they were already disciplined as a team to step up to the plate to honor Kobe’s legacy. The same is true for us, if we want to win in our lives, we must practice discipline now, so that when is time for us to rise to the next level, we will be ready.

Be Focused

One thing I loved about this game was the level of focus Lebron and the other teammate had throughout the game. Even when they were winning by thirty points in halftime they still kept playing with intensity. The truth is that in order to get what you want out of life, you must stay focused on your goal, even when things are going right for you. Your level of focus will determine, your level of greatness.

Be Finisher

As stated before, it takes a high level of focus to play with the high level of intensity when you are winning the game by a lot of points. What it shows me is that you have to be a finisher. You have to maintain a finisher mentality. Often in life, we achieve certain markers and we don’t want to finish whatever goal we strive for. However, we must be a finisher if we want to win in life and achieve greatness.

Be A Promise Keeper

We all know, that there is no one that can keep all of his promises, except God. However, we must acknowledge the level of commitment Lebron and the Lakers had toward keeping their promise of winning a championship with that team. I kept hearing Lebron say to his teammates, “I told you.” Further, I heard Lebron say to the owner of the Lakers that he promised “to put the Lakers back where they belong.” Lebron kept his promise to himself, his teammates, and management by leading them to a championship.

Be Attractive to Talent

One thing that many noticed is that the Lakers were able to attract Lebron James and Anthony Davis to come play for their franchise. When you are striving for greatness you must know you cannot do it along. You also must know that you need to know how to attract high quality people to come work toward your goal. The Lakers being able to attract quality talent to their team allowed them to gain a championship. When you want to win in life and achieve greatness, you must know how to attract quality talent.

Be Your Role

The last thing that stuck out to me was that when the announcer asked Lebron does he think that he is the athlete to be at his prime the longest. Lebron said that is not for him to decide but for the sports analysts to decide. What that stuck out to me was that Lebron knows his role. He understand his role is to be a great player and give something for the sports analyst to argue about. When we try to do other people role we will lose, the best way to be on the path to greatness and to win in life is to be your role.



These are the seven lessons I learned from being the Lakers championship game: be a leader, disciplined, focused, finisher, promise keeper, attractive to talent, and your role. I hope it inspire you to find your path of greatness so you can win at life as well. We can all find our own path of greatness, but we must take time to learn from those who do great things. Lebron and the Lakers gave us the example, the question becomes, will you follow it?