2020 was a difficult year for all of us.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, however, found something to celebrate – winning the NBA title in that gloomy pandemic-hit year.
Of course, that title came under strange circumstances.
On March 11, 2020, the NBA announced that a Utah Jazz player, later revealed to be current Minnesota Timberwolves Center Rudy Gobert, had COVID-19. For many basketball fans, this officially marked the beginning of the pandemic.
The league shut down but eventually started up again in “the bubble” – all the players and staff were housed at Walt Disney World in Florida, and games were played there. Exhibition play resumed in late July. The Lakers wound up defeating the Miami Heat in six games to take home their 17th NBA Championship.
It was the fourth overall title for James after winning two in Miami and one in Cleveland with the Cavaliers.
Some, however, believe that the title is tainted.
5-Time NBA Champion Ron Harper Takes Exception on the Lakers’ 2020 Title
Former Lakers and current Orlando Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope believes if the Lakers would not have broken up, they could have won two more titles and the GOAT debate between James and Michael Jordan would be looked at in a different light.
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“That team, we had a lot of moments where everything just clicked for us,” Caldwell-Pope said. “Those were my brothers, I spent more time with my team than my family… I think if we kept that team together, we would’ve run off two more… There would’ve been no more GOAT talk, that would’ve put (LeBron) at six (titles).”
Former Lakers big man Dwight Howard had similar thoughts.
“We coulda won two more, then everybody coulda retired,” Howard said. “LeBron coulda been done retired, man.”
One of Jordan’s former teammates, guard Ron Harper, does not agree.
“What 2020 title the bubble gum ring?” Harper said, responding to Caldwell-Pope’s comments.
What 2020 title the bubble gum ring?
— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) May 28, 2025
Although the Lakers did indeed take home a championship, playing within the bubble in Florida and seeing so many players miss time due to contracting COVID-19 has led some to question the legitimacy of that title, Harper clearly included.
Harper spent time with the Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers before joining the Chicago Bulls in 1994. Harper was part of the Bulls’ second three-peat, winning three straight titles from 1996 to 1998. He then spent his final three seasons with the Lakers, winning titles in each of his last two seasons—2000 and 2001.
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Although Harper can have his own opinion (and we can obviously see what bias he has – and understandably so), 2020 still represents the Lakers’ 17th banner and James’ fourth ring.
