By Alan Snel
LVSportsBiz.com
Photos by LVSportsBiz.com photographer J. Tyge O’Donnell
LeBron James craned his neck to look upward at the Mandalay Bay Events Center scoreboard and watched the replay of Las Vegas Aces center Liz Cambage muscling her way through the New York Liberty defense to score a power lay-up. Score at the time in the third quarter: Aces 74 Liberty 42.
The Cambage drive to the hoop must have reminded James of his powerful drives to the basket. The Aces’ crowd size Friday night was not overwhelming in big numbers, but it did have the likes of NBA stars James, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul sitting courtside.
And there was Raiders owner Mark Davis in his usual courtside seat.
Hell, even Vegas Golden Knights star PA announcer Bruce Cusick — the Affable One from Minnesota — was courtside, too.
“We are becoming a big basketball town. The NBA Summer League is around the corner,” Aces coach Bill Laimbeer said after the Aces wiped out the Liberty to even their record at 3-3 after the first six games of a 34-game season.
“Winning will help. The crowds are very into it,” Laimbeer said. Our players couldn’t be happier.”
The crowd size looked like it was in the 3,000 range and the Aces announced the attendance at 4,110.
LVSportsBiz.com spoke to Davis, the Raiders owner, about the death of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who died Thursday night at age 75 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
“He was a visionary and on the broadcasting committee that did the TV contracts,” Davis said at halftime of the Aces game. “I talked with his daughter. It’s a sad thing.”