Lakers Win NBA Finals; No Coronavirus Cases Reported In Bubble

For some people one event brought home the impact of the coronavirus pandemic:

March 11. The day the NBA shut down its season.

Resuming four months later, players, coaches and staffers lived in a bubble, sequestered from the outside world. All games among 22 teams were played at Walt Disney World in Florida.

It was an experiment that some believed would never work. It did.

As the final game of the season concluded Sunday night, no coronavirus cases inside the bubble were reported. The league had detailed over 100 pages of guidance to prevent the spread.

Closing the NBA's socially distanced season, the Los Angeles Lakers won 106-93 over the Miami Heat Sunday in Game 6, taking the league championship.

"Working together, teams and players, we found a way to play through a pandemic, keep everyone safe and put a spotlight on these critically important issues," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said prior to the Lakers' trophy presentation. "For that, every team deserves to be celebrated."

The Game

LeBron James had a promise to keep.

And he did: Lakers' forward led Los Angeles to their 17th championship, ending a 10-year drought.

The 35-year-old superstar became the only player in NBA history to be named MVP in league finals while playing for three teams. He averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game during the finals.

The Lakers showcased relentless defense and reached a 30-point lead during the matchup.

"We just want our respect," James said after winning his fourth championship ring. "And I want my damn respect too."

And it all happened in a protective bubble.

Black Lives Matter

In a season like no other, players and the league also grappled with issues of race and inequality like many organizations across the nation.

Following the death of George Floyd, the NBA formed a social justice coalition, dedicated league arenas as polling locations and included advertising spots in each playoff game that promoted civic engagement.

"Black Lives Matter" was emblazoned across the bubble stadium's court.

Many players, including James, were outspoken against racism and calling for change.

In August, NBA players refused to play a scheduled game following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black Wisconsin man.

"This season restart was always about something bigger than basketball. It was about resilience and ingenuity. But it was also about racial equality and social justice," Silver, the NBA commissioner, said Sunday.

A Historic Championship

After its first championship win since 2010, the Lakers' 17 NBA titles tied the Boston Celtics for the most in league history.

As the Lakers celebrated inside the bubble with confetti and champagne, hundreds of fans flooded the streets in Los Angeles. Police arrested 76 people Sunday night after bouts of violence and vandalism.

Brandon Bell / Getty Images

/

Getty Images

It was a hard-fought win following a year where the team didn't make the playoffs.

Last year, the first season James played with the Lakers, he suffered his worst injury — a strained groin that forced him to sit out 17 consecutive games. The Lakers missed the playoffs for a sixth time in a row.

"The Laker faithful don't give a damn what you've done before until you become a Laker," James said on Thursday. "You've got to do it with them as well."

"I told [team owner Jeanie Buss] when I came here that I was going to put this franchise back in the position where it belongs," James said during his finals MVP acceptance speech.

And the team believed him.

"When you have a guy who has been to the finals nine times in the last 10 years, it's hard not to believe him," teammate Anthony Davis said after the win. "It's hard not to believe that he's ... going to get there."

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.