Many fans still refer to the 2020 NBA championship as a “Mickey Mouse ring,” and it’s not only because it was won at Disney World. The bubble was unlike any other, and for a lot of fans, it didn’t feel like a legitimate championship.
No loud fans, no travel, no homecourt advantage—none of the usual elements of a typical playoff run. It was pure basketball and just about who could adapt to the unusual conditions. In the end, the Los Angeles Lakers were the team that came out on top.
It’s forever locked in the record books, but the negative perception around it is still alive and well. Current Lakers guard Austin Reaves, though, believes that the only reason people are still downplaying it is because LeBron James, arguably the most criticized player in the league, was the one who won it.
As transcribed by Peter Dewey of Lakers Daily:
“It’s not a Mickey Mouse ring,” Reaves said. “I don’t wanna say it’s the hardest. I think – I mean, everybody had an equal playing field. I think it’s the same as every other year. I just think if Bron doesn’t win it, then nobody says anything. Everybody hates Bron. Actually, everybody loves LeBron, but he gets so much hate.”
