When the NBA resumed its 2019-20 season in the Orlando, Fla. bubble, the first game back for the Los Angeles Lakers was a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Both teams were having very good seasons, and the Lakers ended up getting a win over the Clippers in their bubble opener. But according to 2020 Lakers champion Danny Green, the first game back didn’t come without hiccups.
He recently shared a story about Lakers star LeBron James “cussing me out” over a possession in which the team allowed a big 3-pointer on defense. It came with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter, as then-Clippers star Paul George nailed a 3 to tie the game at 101.
“I remember Bron cussing me out for that possession,” Green said. “I could argue we were supposed to switch. He could argue that I was in the way or whatever happened, but Paul George probably had six or seven — if I remember, he had a couple 3s before this point. He was already hot. … We talked about it. I remember him not being too happy about that possession.”
Fortunately for the Lakers, James hit a shot on the following possession that gave them a 103-101 lead, and they were able to hold on the rest of the way to start their time in the bubble with a win.
That was the only matchup between the Lakers and Clippers in the bubble, as the two teams didn’t face off in the postseason. The Clippers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs after blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers, meanwhile, cruised to the NBA Finals, where they took care of the Miami Heat to win the title.
Green had his ups and downs in the bubble with the Lakers, but he ultimately started 21 games for the squad during its playoff run and helped the team accomplish the ultimate goal. He finished the postseason averaging 8.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
James, for his part, had a dominant run in the bubble that ended with him taking home Finals MVP honors against the Heat.
The Lakers haven’t won a title or returned to the NBA Finals since their success in the bubble, but they’re hoping to change that with a strong offseason in the coming months as they build around star guard Luka Doncic.
