LAS VEGAS — The sports scene in Southern Nevada took a significant turn on Tuesday with the news of Davante Adams’ trade from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets, but the excitement among the crowd of 16,907 at T-Mobile Arena remained focused on basketball.
The annual preseason matchup featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors drew fans from near and far, generating an electric atmosphere typical of such events. Pre-game festivities kicked off with LeBron James showcasing his skills through warm-up dunks and his signature chalk toss, energizing the crowd.
Although one of his windmill dunk attempts fell short just minutes into the first quarter, James quickly won over the audience with a powerful two-handed dunk at the 7:15 mark, culminating in joyous cheers from fans. It was a night celebrating the return of the NBA, at least for this single event.
During halftime, WNBA player Dearica Hamby shared her thoughts, noting the rarity of such experiences for Las Vegas sports fans, aside from the Aces games. “It’s incredible, you know, they don’t get this experience often outside of Aces basketball,” she said. Hamby enjoyed a courtside view alongside her daughter Amaya and teammate Rae Burrell, while undefeated super lightweight Emiliano Vargas sat directly behind the Lakers’ bench, watching closely.
Burrell, a native of Las Vegas, reflected on how outsiders often oversimplified her hometown to just the famous Strip and the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. “But it was really The Strip – and sports,” she explained. “If you were in sports, you kind of knew everybody in Vegas. So just seeing it all come to life and all these teams getting added, I know the city is just so excited.”
The connection between the Lakers and Las Vegas dates back to April 5, 1984, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set a scoring record at UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center. The Lakers began holding preseason games in this vibrant city in 1988. During the 2007 All-Star Game held in Las Vegas, Kobe Bryant was named MVP for leading the Western Conference to victory.
The NBA Summer League has also found a permanent home in Las Vegas since 2007, with games taking place on the UNLV campus. Burrell commented on the passion for sports in Las Vegas, highlighting how local fans cheer with enthusiasm, including during the national anthem when they chant “NIGHT!” for the NHL’s Golden Knights. “There’s just always so much support in Las Vegas,” she said. “So, just having preseason games and in-season tournament games in Vegas, adding that stuff, just shows the support that is in Vegas.” She believes that the enthusiasm continues to grow as the city welcomes more sports opportunities.
While formal expansion plans remain a few years away, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has previously mentioned Las Vegas as a potential target for growth alongside Seattle. With the prospect of expansion, the possibility of the NBA transitioning into a regular part of the Las Vegas sports calendar appears promising. Hamby believes the allure of Las Vegas will not diminish, stating, “I mean, there’s just so much always going on. People come here every single time of the year.” She expects a unique blend of local and tourist crowds drawn to games from around the globe, solidifying Las Vegas’s place as a vibrant sports destination.