2020 has been a difficult year for nearly everyone living on the planet, as the uncontrollable spread of the COVID-19 pandemic brought our lives to a standstill. Even though most of the world has gone through dark times that they would very much like to forget, there are still some moments that evoke nostalgia for that time in time. One of those moments was when LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals bubble, winning the franchise’s 17th championship in the process.
On October 11, 2020, the Lakers won the bubble championship—three years ago to the day. Therefore, the Lakers’ official Twitter (X) account pays tribute to one of the most iconic photos from their championship celebrations – James smoking a cigar against a pure black background, which emphasizes the aura that the smoke gives the image.
LeBron James himself took an in-depth look at the time, citing the Lakers’ tweet and reacting to the photo, which is indeed a tough one to watch.
“When!!!! đź‘‘đź’¨,” James wrote.
What a moment it truly was for the Lakers, who accomplished something incredible despite the difficult circumstances of the NBA playoffs. Others felt homesick because they had to stay in a controlled space in Orlando for several months, and it wasn’t easy to focus on winning a championship amid all the racial injustice and deaths that occurred during that time.
In fact, LeBron James and the Lakers nearly missed a chance to win the 2020 championship as players nearly canceled the bubble entirely to show solidarity with Jacob Blake, a victim of racial bias.
However, the Lakers have shown enough mental fortitude to withstand any challenge thrown their way to the title. While it may be painful for fans who like to discredit this accomplishment, the Lakers’ 2020 title is as valid as any other.