The last NBA championship win for the LA Lakers came in 2020, but the team never celebrated it to the fullest. Championship parades have been an annual tradition in the NBA for decades now. But the Lakers 2020 champions did not get the opportunity to celebrate their victory the way it was meant to. And Gilbert Arenas believes it’s about time for that team to have its parade.

Gil believes the Lakers are in dire need to celebrate what they did. “I think our real problem is this. We need our parade. We never got it,” he added. The 3x All-Star believes the fact that the Lakers are the only team that did not celebrate after a championship makes the championship feel invalid. “We need the power. Soon as preseason start… F*ck it. Soon as Boston Celtics come in here. Parade. That name broke. They can’t even come to the game. Shut all that shit down. Parade,” he added.

However, Gilbert Arenas is not the first person to campaign for the 2020 Lakers’ championship parade. While Dwight Howard has done it in multiple instances, LeBron James himself campaigned for a collaborative parade. Notably, the start of the 2020s brought significant achievements for the City of Los Angeles. Not only did the Lakers lift their 17th banner, but the LA Dodgers won the World Series in the same year and in 2022 the LA Rams brought home the Super Bowl after 23 years. 

Although the Rams were getting the opportunity, the celebration was still pending for the Dodgers and Lakers. Most would remember that the 2020 season was played in a bio-secure bubble, under a strict set of protocols to avoid the dangers of COVID-19. So Bron campaigned in 2022 that all three teams from LA would have a combined celebration. “We, Dodgers and Rams should all do a joint parade together!!!! With a live concert afterwards to end it!! City of Champions…” he posted on X. 

The Lakers still await their desired celebration. And it becomes even more important given that a certain section of the fans discredits their 2020 win. The core argument behind this is that the concept of home-court advantage did not exist because of the bubble.

How significant was the Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship win? 

The Lakers had claimed the win by defeating Miami Heat 4-2 in the finals series. And Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had himself stated the season could not be compared to other seasons. He believed it was neither difficult nor easier, but just monumentally different from other instances. There is no denying the bubble offered some advantage to the players in traveling hassle. But it also kept them enclosed within a limited space, away from their families.

So some argue that this season not only tested their physical but also mental toughness. One among them was Rajon Rondo, who termed the 2020 run the hardest one. “Family is everything, and not being able to see your family takes a toll on you mentally. We’re not eating normal food, as far as our normal regimen… So that was taking a toll on the mind and the body,” Rondo said.

Meanwhile, Turner Sports analyst in the bubble, Jim Jackson, had given the simplest explanation. He stated all the teams were dealt the same cards, but the Lakers played their hand the best. So it makes it clear if the Lakers 2020 championship was not more difficult, it wasn’t any easier than it would’ve been for any other team. And thus Gilbert Arenas may have a point in demanding that the team celebrate their win the way it needs to be. in a proper manner. 

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.