Lakers sweep aside Magic

Los Angeles Lakers captured their 15th championship and first since 2002 with a 99-86 away victory over Orlando Magic in Game Five of the NBA Finals on Sunday.

Los Angeles won the best-of-seven series 4-1, giving coach Phil Jackson his record 10th championship ring and 11-times All-Star guard Kobe Bryant his fourth.

"It's been a long time since he had a champagne bath, and I knew that, so I made sure he became part of our circle and we got him pretty good," Bryant said following the Lakers' locker room celebration.

"He took his glasses off, threw his head back and soaked it all in because this is a special time, and for us to be the team that got him that historic 10th championship is special."

The 30-year-old Bryant paced the Lakers with 30 points and was named the most valuable player in the finals, the first time he has received the award.

When he won his three previous titles (2000-2002), team-mate Shaquille O'Neal was named the MVP and Bryant said criticism he could not claim the title without the 7-foot-1 centre patrolling the paint was "just silly".

"Every team has a dynamic duo," said Bryant, who averaged 32.4 points during the finals.

"It's a shame. But it is what it is. I wasn't going to try to argue about it.

"That does nothing. So you just accept the challenge and try to prove them wrong."

The Lakers reached the finals last year but lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.

"Were they the better team in the series? Yeah, that's why they're the champs," said Magic All-Star centre Dwight Howard, who averaged 17 points in the series but lacked consistency.