Since the Los Angeles Lakers secured the 2020 NBA championship within the unique environment of the Disney World `bubble,` its legitimacy and standing among other titles have been a constant subject of debate. The unprecedented nature of the bubble format, coupled with the triumph of LeBron James and the Lakers, has frequently led to this title facing scrutiny and often being branded with an `asterisk.` These discussions, it seems, are not confined to sports talk shows or online fan interactions.
Recently, Philadelphia 76ers executive Daryl Morey reignited the controversy by stating to The Athletic that, in his view, many within the NBA do not regard it as a `genuine championship.` Morey contended that if his former team, the Rockets, had won under those circumstances, he would have considered it legitimate, acknowledging the immense effort and resilience required. However, he claimed:
“Everyone I speak to around the league privately agrees that it doesn`t truly hold up as a genuine championship. Perhaps the lasting legacy of the NBA bubble is that the NBA should be proud of its leadership at both the beginning and end of the pandemic, even though the champion will forever be marked by an asterisk.”
Such a statement might carry more weight if it came from an executive who had himself won a championship. Instead, it appears to be a case of `sour grapes` and will likely only result in Morey facing public backlash online – a nearly annual occurrence for him.
While the bubble was undeniably one of the most unusual events in professional sports history, the quality of basketball played in Orlando that year was exceptionally high. For an active general manager of another team to question the `genuineness` of this championship seems highly contentious, particularly given his reputation for assembling teams that frequently fall short of expectations—both in conventional seasons and those purportedly `marked by asterisks.`
