Ever since LeBron James wore a Dancing Bears sweats outfit before Game 2 in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Lakers won 12 out of 15 games, and the league championship. A little Grateful Dead magic didn't hurt.
It all started on September 6 at the bubble in Orlando, Florida where the NBA All-Star was photographed in the outfit emblazoned with three of the bears. The Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets in overtime to knot the series at 1-1.
They won Game 3 on September 8, Game 4 on September 10 and Game 5 on September 12 to take the series over the Rockets, 4-1.
In the the West Finals series vs. the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers won Game 1 on September 18 and Game 2 on September 20 to build a 2-0 lead.
On September 22, the Lakers lost Game 3, ending their Dancing Bears winning streak. However, on September 24 and September 26 the Lakers defeated the Nuggets to win the series, 4-1.
On September 30 and October 2, the Lakers won the first two games of the NBA Finals vs. the Miami Heat. They lost Game 3 on October 4, then won Game 4 on October 6.
Miami defeated Los Angeles in a tense Game 5 on October 9. The Lakers rebounded in Game 6 on October 11 to earn the NBA title. James scored a triple double: 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
It was the Lakers 17th NBA championship and James' fourth - 2012 and 2013 with the Heat, 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and this one. James, who's 35, has played 17 seasons. He's considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and may be a Deadhead to boot.
BBZ ???????????? pic.twitter.com/5KMOrN7epZ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 6, 2020
The Dancing Bears design, created by Bob Thomas at the request of the band's sound engineer and LSD provider Owlsey Stanley (he was nicknamed "Bear"), first appeared on the back cover of History of the Grateful Dead, Volume 1 (Bear's Choice) in 1973. The band's guitarist Jerry Garia was also referred to as "Papa Bear."
James' Deady hoodie can be found here. There are many other similar Dancing Bear sweatshirts on the web.
Bronny James Smokes a Blunt
After James' 15-year-old son Bronny posted a video of himself smoking a blunt, James said, "It pissed me off." Bronny plays on the Sierra Canyon School basketball team. The video has since been deleted.
This article was originally posted on September 8. It has been updated several times.
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