A big shout-out to NBA commissioner Adam Silver for gifting basketball fans the in-season tournament. It was a smashing success. It created a ton of buzz right around a time when football usually dominates the headlines.

The championship game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 9 was the most-watched regular-season game — excluding Christmas Day games — the NBA has had on any network in nearly six years, according to ESPN. It averaged 4.58 million viewers on ABC and ESPN2, peaking at about 5.68 million viewers.

The NFL still rules the American sports landscape, but the NBA in-season tournament certainly carved out a nice niche that could be parlayed into something special for years to come. Sure, there are still a few things Silver and his top executives could smooth out. But the NBA certainly hit the jackpot with this out-of-the-box idea that worked because the players bought in, especially the league’s superstars.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis were clearly motivated to win the inaugural tournament. The Lakers’ All-Star duo set the tone by treating every game as if it was the playoffs. After finishing 4-0 in group play, the Lakers eliminated Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns in the knockout round, and capped their perfect 7-0 tournament run by sweeping both games at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to capture the first ever NBA Cup.

LeBron had 30 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in just 23 minutes in L.A.’s 133-89 demolition of the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals. Two nights later, it was Davis’ turn to dominate as he authored Shaq-like numbers with 41 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks in a convincing 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the championship game.

“We have a great 1-2 punch,” said LeBron, who was named in-season tournament MVP. “I took care of the semifinals game and he took care of the finals game, and that’s what it is all about. Hold each other accountable.”

Davis, who showed a lot of grit and fire during L.A.’s impressive run, mirrored what his fellow Klutch Sports buddy said in the locker room while celebrating with teammates.

“Bron carried the torch [in the semifinals] and it was my job [in the finals]. We have each other’s back,” Davis told Spectrum SportsNet’s Allie Clifton. “When one of us is struggling like I was Thursday, he carried the torch. Tonight, he got off to a slow start but I had his back.”

Davis had everyone’s back in the two games in Vegas, putting on a defensive clinic. He “only” tallied six blocks in the semifinals and finals, but he seemingly contested every shot in the paint and his presence was felt by everyone on the Pelicans and Pacers.

LeBron backed up AD’s monster game with an efficient 24-point, 11-rebound night in 34 minutes. LeBron was locked in throughout the tourney, averaging 26.4 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while shooting 56.8% from the field and an eye-popping 60.6% on 3-pointers (James shoots 34% for his career). He turns 39 years old on Dec. 30. For a man who has accomplished just about everything in the sport, LeBron understood the historical nature of the moment.

“It’s pretty cool to be able to say you were the first to do something,” LeBron told Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell. “This will go down in history. We’re the first team to ever win the in-season tournament. I’ll take some history for sure.”

“It absolutely means something,” LeBron added. “Every time you put the Lakers into the history books, it means something and I’m happy to be part of it.”

The Pacers, led by tournament breakout star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, came into the finals as the NBA’s No. 1 scoring team at 128 points per game. They love to play at a breakneck pace. But against the Lakers, their speed and pace were overwhelmed by the Lakers’ size and length.

L.A. had a massive 42-point advantage on points in the paint and outrebounded the Pacers by 23. The Lakers made only two 3-pointers for the game, but their 86 points in the paint more than made up for their lack of threes. The Lakers’ dominance in the paint didn’t allow Haliburton to get a running start, forcing him to slow down and play in more halfcourt sets where the Lakers defense can load up and trap him.

Haliburton, who entered the tourney final averaging 26.7 points and a league best 13.3 assists, was held in check with 20 points and had three turnovers.