Anthony Davis Calls Bubble Ring the Hardest, But Regrets Missing Full Championship Experience

When Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 Bubble championship, many fans and analysts started to claim that it was not a legitimate victory.

Their logic was that the men in purple and gold had it easy. No angsty road fans in the crowd to deal with. Not having to manage sleep and recovery on exhausting flights after overtime games.

Then there was the other logic that their opponents may not have been in the right spirit, having been forced to live away from family and friends for an extended period of time.

Even 76ers GM Daryl Morey mentioned that the championship should have an asterisk beside it, as almost everyone who watched the games, or was at the Bubble, knew the Lakers had it easy.

However, time and again, particularly those who have won titles under normal circumstances, repeatedly stressed the point that the bubble championship was harder to win.

At that moment, I felt like I have accomplished everything… We knew we were not going to have a parade… We couldn’t get the full experience… To me, it’s probably the hardest championship to ever accomplish.

Anthony Davis said

AD says he sometimes doesn’t feel like a champion because he didn’t get the full experience.

“I know I’m listed as a champion, but it’s like… I’m not sure. It motivates me now that I have that opportunity again.”

(@DraymondShow / @NBA__Courtside )
pic.twitter.com/MBx2nqEg3m

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 8, 2026

The 6’10” forward reiterated that the bubble championship was hard to win, which should stop critics from continuing to harp on that route. But then, the now Washington Wizards superstar talked about the experience being different than what others enjoy.

Anthony Davis did not experience winning a championship in the complete sense

While talking about it being harder to win in that environment, Anthony Davis mentioned that he did not get the full experience of winning a championship. He then reiterated to Draymond Green on his podcast what he meant.

I know I’m a champion, but I want the real experience… For me, it’s like ‘Damn, did I win? Did I not win?’ I know I’m listed as a champion, but it’s like, I’m not sure.

Anthony Davis said

The 33-year-old star pointed out how, due to COVID rules, he and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates could not even have fun at a championship parade, something every other winner does.

On top of that, champions nowadays go on various talk shows, appear courtside or at other sporting events, and are celebrated at the White House along with other platforms.

Even though many teams have declined to go to the White House for various reasons, it seems Anthony Davis would have preferred it if he and his teammates could do some of the other things winners do. That is why he sometimes has doubts about how they won the 2020 NBA Championship.

Anthony Davis is motivated to experience winning a championship the normal way

As he discussed how much he wished he and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates could have enjoyed their championship win with fans and their families, the mere fact that Anthony Davis wants to experience it is what is driving him to win at least one more.

It motivates me more now, to where it’s like, I’ve got to have that opportunity again.

Anthony Davis said

Even though he and LeBron James could not return to the NBA Finals after that 2020 win, they hoped they could continue trying. Then, after he first learned of his trade to the Dallas Mavericks, he thought he could fight for it with Luka Doncic.

Once he realized that was not going to happen, the Chicago native hoped he could do it with the Mavericks team he was a part of. But injuries ensured those plans would go moot. Now, he is motivated to try to do that with the Washington Wizards.

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