LeBron's former teammate credits a major trait for the unprecedented bubble run
The 2020 Los Angeles Lakers faced challenges unlike any championship team before them, from the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant to months of isolation inside the NBA’s Orlando bubble. According to former Lakers guard Danny Green, one constant helped keep the team together throughout the historic run:
Speaking during Bleacher Report’s “The Run” series, Green reflected on the Lakers’ championship journey and emphasized that James’ impact extended far beyond his production on the court.
His Leadership
While fans remember his dominant performances alongside Anthony Davis, Green said James was equally valuable in keeping that locker room connected during the bubble.
Green explained that James regularly organized team dinners and stuff away from basketball, making sure players stayed engaged with one another despite the unique circumstances of the bubble.
From group outings to informal gatherings, James worked to build chemistry while also ensuring the team remained focused on its ultimate goal.
Having played for multiple championship organizations throughout his career, Green said James ranks among the best leaders he has been around because of the way he balances accountability with personality.
Roses and the jerseys of Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, right, and his daughter Gianna are set on the seats they sat in on the last game they attended together, Dec. 29, 2019, at Staples Center“After we lost Kobe and being in the bubble, he knew what was at stake, but he just raised his level of play, his level of focus and his level of leadership,” Green said.
Going into the Bubble
The Lakers entered the 2019-20 season carrying enormous expectations after acquiring Anthony Davis to pair with James.
They quickly established themselves as one of the NBA’s elite teams before the season was interrupted by Bryant’s death in January 2020, an event that deeply affected the NBA family and the city of Los Angeles.
Just weeks later, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NBA to suspend play, eventually leading to the creation of the bubble at Walt Disney World.
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates after making a basket against the Houston Rockets during the second half of game two of the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena. Green described the experience as physically exhausting and mentally draining, with players separated from their families for months while competing every other day.
Despite those conditions, the Lakers remained one of the league’s most focused teams.
Green credited James for helping maintain that mindset, noting that the four-time MVP understood the significance of the moment and elevated both his play and his leadership when the games mattered most.
On the court, the Lakers overcame early series deficits against Portland and Houston before defeating Denver in the Western Conference Finals.
Beat All Odds
They then outlasted Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in six games to secure the franchise’s 17th NBA championship.
Green called the bubble title the hardest championship of his career, citing the emotional pressure, the demanding schedule and the unusual environment.
He explained that the isolation from family and the grind of playing every other day made the experience unlike any other postseason he had been a part of.
Six years after lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Green’s reflections reinforce what many around the organization believed at the time: the Lakers’ championship was fueled by LeBron James’ ability to lead through one of the most difficult and unprecedented seasons in NBA history.
