- Markieff Morris says the Lakers used Kobe Bryant to fuel their playoff run
- Lakers were “locked in” to avenge Kobe’s death
- LeBron and his teammates were convinced they could not be beaten in the bubble
During a time when the whole world was in chaos, the Los Angeles Lakers found a way to prosper on the backs of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. And while there’s no doubt that many factors played a role in the outcome that year, Kobe Bryant’s passing that January was the source that got everybody locked in.
By the time the Lakers were called to continue the season in Orlando, they knew that their passion and determination would give them the edge they needed to win. “The sh*t that happened with Kobe [Bryant] was like we got to get it done for him. Before we went in the bubble, we (Lakers) were one of the teams that was pushing more for it because we knew we had the best chance of winning. We knew that no matter what, or who stepped on the court with us that, we were gonna win. That’s the most locked-in I’ve ever been on basketball.”
“That’s the most locked in I’ve ever been on basketball.”@Keefmorris gives a behind-the-scenes look into the Lakers 2020 bubble run.
Watch episode 197 of #AllTheSmoke with the Morris twins on our YouTube. pic.twitter.com/ocFpsc9ZRe
— All the Smoke (@allthesmokeprod) September 19, 2023
Kobe’s life came to an abrupt end in January 2020 when he was involved in a fatal helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine people, including one of his daughters, Gianna Bryant. The world was in mourning for months after the incident, and many are still mourning the tragedy today. Between Kobe’s passing and the COVID-19 pandemic, nobody was expecting much from the Lakers that season. Yet, somehow, they channeled all their struggles into becoming a dominant force on both ends of the court. In the end, LeBron James and Anthony Davis had everyone locked in on their mission to avenge Kobe and bring the glory back to the Purple and Gold.
The 2020 Championship Was Dedicated To Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was a hero for the Lakers and a legend in Los Angeles. For 20 years, he fought and bled for the organization, winning five championships before finishing his career in 2016 as an 18x All-Star, 2x scoring champion, and NBA MVP. Through 1,346 games, he averaged 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 44.7% shooting.
It wouldn’t be until years later that LeBron would join the team, and by then Kobe was already retired. Fortunately, James successfully managed to bring the Lakers back to contention in the West and it’s why they were able to win the 2020 championship to honor Kobe Bryant after his passing.
“I try not to take myself back to that position, that place, that timeframe. Obviously, he’s looking down on us, along with Gigi, just proud of what we’re doing as an organization. Hopefully, we continue to make him proud,” said LeBron. “I don’t want to live in the past. I definitely don’t want to live out that day again. It’s about always continuing to move forward and continuing to live on his legacy.”
NBA Bubble Was The Hardest Playoff Stretch In NBA History
While the NBA’s Orlando quarantine was pretty luxurious compared to the living conditions of everyday citizens, it came with plenty of challenges that players just didn’t know how to deal with at the time. With players being pulled from their families, and confined to a single resort for weeks, it wasn’t always easy for these guys to stay focused on the game.
In the case of the Lakers, however, they pushed through for Kobe and they were the last team standing in the end. There’s no doubt their determination and will would have made No. 24 proud, but they can’t stop now that they’ve won one. Bryant would have wanted the Lakers to strive for greatness every single year, and that’s exactly what LeBron has been trying to do ever since he took home the trophy in 2020.
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