Sunday, October 11, the NBA season in the bubble officially came to an end, with the Los Angeles Lakers winning a 4-2 series over the Miami Heat. The 2019-2020 season had been anything but ordinary, from the untimely death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, the postponing of the season back in March, social activism taking the wheel and the decision to move all games to a bubble format in Orlando, Florida. Many believed that this season would have an asterisk next to it, as it wouldn’t be as meaningful because it was “not like the rest” but there must be major props given to Adam Silver and the NBA for their ability to pull off a COVID free, successful playoffs. 

This Lakers championship is meaningful in many ways. Led by a 35 year old, now with 4 championship rings and 5 MVP awards, Lebron James ultimately proved everyone wrong. After signing with the Lakers in 2018, James was persistent in his quest to win a championship with LA. “Personally, thinking I had something to prove fuels me,” James said. “It fueled me over this last year and a half, since my injury. It fueled me because no matter what I’ve done in my career up to this point, there’s still little rumblings of doubt or, you know, comparing me to the history of the game, and: ‘Has he done this? Has he done that.” Throughout the postseason Lebron shot over 50% from the field and averaged 30 points in the Finals. To say he earned the 2020 Finals MVP with full votes, is more than fitting. 

Many other key players on the team earned this championship too. The Lakers signed and dropped many players throughout the season, so the role players changed due to this, as well as injury. Notable first championships with the Lakers were Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso and Anthony Davis. Davis, who was part of the monster New Orleans trade, brought extreme value to the team this season averaging 26.1 points this season. 

With every game, there is a winner and a loser. In the 2020 Finals, we saw an extremely talented matchup between the Heat and Lakers. WHile the Lakers came out on top, Miami came and showed the NBA what they were capable of. Coming off 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the Heat added Jimmy Butler to their roster, and quite frankly that made all the difference. Butler was able to lead younger players such as Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro to beat the Pacers, Bucks and Celtics and land themselves in the Finals.

The 2020 Lakers Championship can’t be discussed without bringing up Kobe Bryant. After his loss in Jan of 2020, the Lakers organized struggled to come to terms with the loss of a mentor, player and friend to many. The Lakers GM Rob Pelinka recognized the impact that Kobe continues to have on their program by saying, “Kobe’s voice is always in my head, always, every day, every minute. … For us to be able to win this championship doesn’t take away the sting of the loss, but what it does is it helps us add to their legacy,” The Lakers had not won a championship since 2010, with Kobe leading the whole way. There is no doubt that this season and the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is dedicated to the Lakers own, Kobe Bean Bryant.