Super Bowl LIV and LV Champion, LeSean McCoy, is defending LeBron James after Barstool Sports dismissed the Lakers' 2020 championship, arguing that the Orlando bubble presented unique mental challenges that only professional athletes can truly respect.

After the 4-0 semifinal series sweep against the OKC, Barstools’ Dan Katz considered James’ tenure with the Lakers as a failure, discarding the 2020 championship, saying, “I absolutely do not count the COVID championship.”

Featuring on the Speakeasy podcast, McCoy directly questioned the credibility of Dan Katz. “Dudes that are not athletes, you don’t respect athletes,” McCoy said.

“I don’t always take them seriously because you have no idea.”

Other superstars like Kevin Durant have expressed similar frustrations with non-athlete analysts. Once Slim Reaper took on the non-athlete analysts, saying, “When you’ve never been in that situation. I like to be the guy to remind you that there are guys who have actually been in that situation.”

In addition, McCoy argued that the opinion of armchair athletes did not concern him.

“When you don't respect athletes, and you don't know what it's like to really be one, you can say whatever you want, especially if you're around other non-athletes. That's why I hate this type of take.”

After criticizing the narrative around the 2020 championship, the former NFL star defended the Lakers’ achievement. “Bubble or no bubble, he's (LeBron James) going against other great professional players," he said.

The 2020 NBA Finals featured the Lakers going against a stacked Miami Heat roster. Playing against Bam Adebayo and a recently acquired Jimmy Butler, the Lakers' victory did not come easily.

Importantly, he also argued that the criticism would not exist if any other franchise had won that season.

“Anyone else would have won that championship in the bubble; you would count it.”

LeBron, on the other hand, believes that 2020 was one of his toughest championship runs.

LeBron James on The Bubble Ring Debate

Over the last 6 years, several NBA stars have weighed in on their opinions on the Orlando bubble season. However, Damian Lillard stirred the pot when he considered the bubble season “way easier” to win. 

It was a season that operated under ‌unusual circumstances. The teams had neutral arenas with no travel. Although it took out the hostility of a homecourt effect, it provided a level playing field in every single game, enabling the teams to deliver their maximum.

While Dame’s statement went across the NBA world, LeBron James drew attention with his own statement.

He said he was part of the “two hardest championships in league history, referring to the Cavs’ historic 3-1 comeback in 2016 and the Lakers’ 2020 run.

The finals that year went to Game 6, with the Lakers eventually taking the cake with a 4-2 victory over the Heat.

Interestingly, Lillard later clarified that he meant that with the challenges of usual arenas removed, winning a championship game would be much harder.

Do you think the 2020 NBA Championship game was easier for players? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Shahul Hameed

Edited by

Surjo Ray