Heat’s Bam Adebayo Puts Full Stop to NBA’s “Bubble Championship” Legitimacy Debate

It has been three years since LeBron James won his fourth championship. While the world was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, King James led the Lakers to the Championship inside the NBA Bubble in 2020. The Lakers beat the Miami Heat in the finals to win their 17th title. But the legitimacy of LeBron’s fourth ring has been in question because of the circumstances he won it in. The games were being played in a confined environment without a live audience.

The NBA world frequently tries to disregard the 2020 Championship as a real title. However, LeBron James’ NBA Finals opponent, Bam Adebayo, put a full stop to the “Bubble Championship” debate with just one statement.

Miami Heat superstar Bam Adebayo was a guest in The OGs podcast hosted by retired players Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem. During the episode, Bam addressed the legitimacy of the “Bubble Championship” the Lakers won in 2020. “That was the hardest championship to win,” Bam claimed. However, he said that it was just his opinion because of the unprecedented circumstances. Players competing for the title inside the Bubble were isolated from their families for over three months. That took a toll on their mental and emotional well-being.

The NBA Bubble was a test of players’ mental toughness because they were mostly confined inside a hotel room with nothing but their thoughts. While many fans try to disregard the 2020 title and even call it the “Mickey Mouse” ring, players like Bam Adebayo, who actually played in the Bubble, have a different opinion. Many players apart from Bam Adebayo have called the Bubble Championship one of the hardest titles to win.

Is the Bubble Championship disregarded because LeBron James won it?

LeBron James has been dominating the NBA for over two decades. He has been compared with NBA greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant ever since he entered the league and many consider him the GOAT. However, with all the praise comes a ton of criticism. Many fans try to disregard LeBron’s achievements to tarnish his legacy. That is what happened when King James won his 4th ring inside the Bubble. As soon as LeBron lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy in Orlando, he was scrutinized for winning in a different environment.

Read More: “This is Not Enough”: Unimpressed by Bam Adebayo’s Career High Season, Ex-Champ Demands “More” From Heat Star

The same scenario repeated this year when LeBron lifted the first-ever NBA Cup after winning the inaugural in-season tournament. The NBA world was excited about the level of basketball being played early in the season because of the tournament. But as soon as LeBron won the tournament, he got slammed for celebrating 20 games into the season. Amid all the criticism, it is great to see LeBron’s peers and opponents giving more weight to the Championship he won inside the Bubble.

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