The 2020 NBA Championship—often referred to as the “Bubble Ring”—remains one of the most polarizing titles in league history.
For years, fans have debated its legitimacy. Now, even Anthony Davis, a central figure on that championship team, has added nuance to the conversation.
Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, Davis reflected on the title he won with the Los Angeles Lakers:
“To this day, I think about that, like did I really win a championship? You hear the noise, which to me was probably the hardest championship to ever accomplish.
But for me, I feel like I know I’m a champion, but I want the real experience… I want to go on the road, go into a Western Conference team’s arena and get a win. I want that.
…For me, it’s like, ‘did I win, did I not win?’ I know I’m listed as a champion, but it’s like, I’m not sure. So it motivates me more now to have that opportunity again.”
A Championship Like No Other
The 2020 title came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the NBA to create a controlled, bio-secure environment at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida.
There was no travel. No home-court advantage. No fans.
Every game—from the first round through the Finals—was played in a silent gym, stripping away the intensity and spectacle typically associated with postseason basketball.
That absence of atmosphere has fueled skepticism ever since.
Ratings and Perception
The Finals matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat reflected that disconnect with fans.
The series averaged just 7.45 million viewers, the lowest in NBA Finals history—well below the previous low of 9.29 million during the 2007 series between the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Game 6, which clinched the championship for Los Angeles, became the least-watched Finals-clinching game ever and one of the lowest-rated Finals games on record.
Not an Isolated Sentiment
Davis isn’t alone in his complicated feelings.
Former teammate Alex Caruso raised eyebrows after winning a title with the Oklahoma City Thunder, referring to it as his “real championship”—a comment widely interpreted as a subtle jab at the 2020 run.
Legacy Still Under Debate
Despite the criticism, many players and analysts argue the opposite—that the bubble presented one of the toughest mental challenges in NBA history. Isolation, constant testing, and the absence of energy from fans created a unique pressure environment.
Still, perception often shapes legacy.
And as long as players like Davis continue to publicly wrestle with what that title means, the debate around the “Bubble Ring” isn’t going anywhere.
