The Los Angeles Lakers' championship in 2020 at the bubble during the COVID pandemic has been one of the most often discussed title runs of all time. When the Lakers hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy in Orlando, the narrative immediately became about how undeserved the title was because of the circumstances the games were played.
This never made much sense since every team played under the same conditions. If anything, the Lakers lost the crucial home-court advantage that they were on their way to clinching in the playoffs.
Yet, this has never been enough for haters to take shots at the Lakers' title. The most recent figure to do so was Philadelphia 76ers GM Daryl Morey. Per the bubble retrospective on The Athletic by Joe Vardon, the former Rockets GM had said that everyone around the league "privately agrees that it doesn’t truly hold up as a genuine championship."
After understandable backlash online, Morey reportedly cleared the air, per Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Morey reached out to express his frustration and highlighted how much he actually respects LA's title run.
"I'm frustrated. Of course, I respect that title. I defend it to people all the time. It's the thing I want the most."Daryl Morey
Talking heads and media members disrespecting the championship is one thing, but a rival GM discrediting the hard work of a team under difficult conditions was unacceptable. Coming from an executive who has yet to win a title or make the NBA Finals, it is even more difficult to take seriously.
The bubble certainly had different dynamics. The lack of fans and minimal media coverage meant fewer distractions. There were a few players who refused to come to Disney to participate. While these are all true, it is equally easy to make the case that the bubble was the purest form of basketball. The quality of play was high, and the Lakers came out on top.
Regardless of what everyone else says, the championship counts all the same, and banner no. 17 will hang from the rafters forever.