LeBron James has made winning look easy inside the NBA bubble, but that doesn’t mean the experience has been a cakewalk.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a 10th trip to the NBA Finals — this time against his former team the Miami Heat — James admitted his nearly three-month stay inside the confines of Disney World in Orlando has been even harder than he imagined.
“This has probably been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done as far as a professional, as far as committing to something and actually making it through. But I knew what I was coming — what we were coming here for… I would be lying if I said I knew everything inside the bubble, the toll it would take on your mind and your body, and everything else.
“It’s been — it’s been extremely tough. But I’m here for one reason and one reason only, and that’s to compete for a championship, and that was my mindset once I entered the bubble, once I entered the quarantine process the first two days.”
The Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs — winning each series in five games — and the 35-year-old James is averaging 26.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists per contest. It’s his second-highest rebound and assist averages in his illustrious playoff career.
After arriving on July 10, the Lakers will be ending their bubble stay soon. The Finals tip off Wednesday night, and a potential Game 7 is slated for Oct. 13. James will be hoping to leave his lengthy trip with silverware in tow.
“Right from our first practice, my mindset was to — if imma’ be here, make the most of it, and see what you can do, and lock in on what the main thing is,” James said. “And the main thing was for us to finish the season and compete for a championship. So that’s just been my mindset throughout these, you know, I don’t even know how many days it’s been. Whatever how many days it is, it feels like five years.”