The victory of the Lakers in 2020 undoubtedly qualifies as a legitimate title in their championship history.
The Los Angeles Lakers' triumphant 2020 NBA championship victory, achieved amidst the uncertainty and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has sparked a heated debate amongst NBA players, experts, and fans.
In a controversial move, Daryl Morey, the Philadelphia 76ers' executive, suggested to The Athletic that the Lakers' championship against the Miami Heat did not hold up as a genuine title due to the pandemic. Morey implied that, while he would have celebrated if his own team, the Houston Rockets, had won the bubble title, many around the league privately believed the 2020 championship was not quite the same as in normal seasons and thus deserved an asterisk.
This view reflects the unique difficulties and compromises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including playing in isolation without fans and under strict health protocols. However, players and commentators like Stephen A. Smith criticized Morey for downplaying the legitimacy of the championship, arguing that the players’ efforts to create a sense of normalcy and provide entertainment during a global crisis should be fully honored and valued.
The Lakers' 2020 championship was won during a time when there were more questions about COVID-19 than answers. The team, despite having the best record in the Western Conference, did not have home court advantage due to the absence of fans. The victory was secured inside the Bubble, a $200-million logistics behemoth, in 2020.
During the Lakers' championship run, fans were not present due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bubble was a collaboration between infectious disease experts, the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, the league office, the players' union, ESPN, and many other corporations.
The Lakers' victory came less than a week before the world shut down, as cities were running out of places to store the dead during this period. By the end of the Bubble, the death toll had risen to over 206,000.
Despite the controversy, NBA insiders have shown strong support for honoring the 2020 title as legitimate. Many cities were running out of places to store the dead during this period, and the Lakers overcame numerous challenges to secure their 17th NBA title.
However, many fans and former players have been quick to point out what the Lakers did not do in the 2020 postseason. The Bleacher Report left Kobe Bryant off its Top 10 all-time player list in July, sparking outrage among fans and players alike.
In the time between NBA play stopping in March 2020 and resuming in July, the United States lost over 140,000 people to COVID-19. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns lost his mother and seven other relatives to COVID-19, adding a personal tragedy to the already difficult circumstances faced by the league and its players.
Following the backlash to his comments, Daryl Morey has since walked back his stance, acknowledging the extraordinary achievements of the Lakers and the challenges they faced during the pandemic. The debate around the legitimacy of the 2020 NBA championship will likely continue to be a topic of discussion for years to come.
[1] [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30492153/daryl-morey-76ers-executive-says-lakers-2020-nba-title-deserves-asterisk] [2] [https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/stephen-a-smith-slams-daryl-morey-for-downplaying-lakers-nba-title-legitimacy-calls-it-disrespectful-to-kobe-bryant/]
- The controversy surrounding the Lakers' 2020 NBA championship victory, achieved amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a heated debate, with Daryl Morey, the Philadelphia 76ers' executive, suggesting to The Athletic that the title deserves an asterisk.
- In a move that has been criticized by players and commentators like Stephen A. Smith, Morey implied that the pandemic's unique difficulties and compromises, such as playing in isolation without fans and under strict health protocols, diminished the championship's legitimacy.
- The Lakers won their 17th NBA title inside the Bubble, a collaboration between various corporate entities, stadiums, and health experts, amidst a global surge in COVID-19 cases.
- The Bleacher Report's decision to leave Kobe Bryant off its Top 10 all-time player list in July sparked outrage among fans and players, further fueling the ongoing debate about the legitimacy of the 2020 NBA championship.
- Despite the controversy and backlash, many NBA insiders, cities, and fans continue to honor the Lakers' 2020 championship as legitimate, acknowledging the extraordinary achievements and challenges faced by the team during the pandemic. [Sources: 1] [2]
