The 2020 Lakers’ Bubble Title: Legitimate or With an Asterisk?

Five years later, debate rages over the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship in the Orlando bubble. 76ers president Daryl Morey has fueled the discussion, suggesting it might carry an unofficial asterisk.

“Not Illegitimate… But Different”

On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Morey stated:

“There’s definitely a feeling that the bubble was different. Not illegitimate, but different. Some people around the league see it with an asterisk, unofficially.”

He added to The Athletic:

“Everyone I speak to privately agrees it doesn’t truly hold up as a genuine championship.”

The Lakers’ 17th banner, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, came amid isolation, no crowds, and pandemic chaos—context Morey believes alters its standing.

LeBron and Legends Push Back

James called it his mentally toughest title, while players like Goran Dragić defended its legitimacy. Some legends, including Scottie Pippen, hinted it felt more like a “pickup game environment.”

Legacy in Limbo

The bubble ring remains official, but in a league built on tradition and legacy, the 2020 championship may never fully escape its unique context.