By Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — Tyrese Haliburton can change his own narrative on Saturday night. And LeBron James gets a chance to add yet another prize to his legacy.

It’s a game that doesn’t count in the standings — but still has a ton of money, a trophy, medals and bragging rights on the line. Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers will take on James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night in the championship game of the inaugural In-Season Tournament.

Both teams are 6-0 in the event.

The tournament was something that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wanted for years, likening it to what’s commonly done in top soccer leagues around the globe. James said the other major ideas on Silver’s watch — the bubble at Walt Disney World that finished the 2019-20 season in the early months of the pandemic on the way to the Lakers winning the title, and the play-in tournament — both worked, and he has called the commissioner “a genius” for pulling the In-Season Tournament off.

“We’ve got to finish our breakfast on Saturday. That’s the most important thing,” James said. “But like I said, yeah, he’s pretty good. I said Adam is a genius. He does a great job, for sure.”

James has won four NBA titles and been to the NBA Finals 10 times. He is the NBA’s career leading scorer and has a slew of accolades. Haliburton is essentially just starting out; he was an All-Star last year, got a rookie max extension from the Pacers last summer that will be worth at least $205 million and has emerged as perhaps this season’s breakout star.

But after a loss in Miami last week, Haliburton said this to a handful of reporters at his locker: “Individual success is nothing at this point. I just want to win. I’m tired of being a loser. I’ve got to do a better job of finding ways to win. I’ve got to be better for us to win games. That’s just plain and simple.”

He had 27 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds and no turnovers in Indiana’s semifinal win over Milwaukee in Las Vegas on Thursday. And while it’s not an NBA title, Haliburton has a chance to win something big on Saturday night.