By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Words fail to describe 2020. A global pandemic, unprecedented for our short lifespan took over so quickly, that we no longer understand when was the last time the world was “normal”. With entire seasons canceled and bitter farewells to the sports biggest icons, this year has been peculiar, to say the least.
The good news is that there are brighter days to come! What 2020 rendered impossible, 2021 has yet to give. Before we dig into the new year, let’s look back to the 10+1 moments that defined 2020 in basketball.
2020 began with the worst news that we could ever imagine. On January 26, Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in California, alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna and 7 more civilians. According to reports, the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter carrying Kobe, Gianna, and the other passengers was headed to Thousand Oaks for a basketball tournament at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy before the helicopter crashed.
The images of the tragic event remain haunting, though the legacy of the four-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star will carry on. Bryant defined a whole generation of the game and continued to fight for a change even after his withdrawal from action. A strong advocate for female sports, a father of the nation’s next generation of players, there was more to Kobe than we could see.
NBA’s suspension and bubble restart
It was March 11 when the NBA announced the suspension of the 2019–20 season following Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive for COVID-19. Just a week after, the World Health Organization would declare a pandemic, and the world would never be the same again.
For months, the NBA had discussions upon discussions, trying to figure out the best way possible to conclude the season at some point, without putting the players at risk. The solution eventually came through the “bubble” format, where the 22-team restart took place, isolated from the outside world as COVID-19 cases began to spike across the US.
The league successfully managed to keep its players safe for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs, with zero positives within the bubble.
Los Angeles Lakers crowned NBA champions
After a long season full of hurdles and heartbreak, the Los Angeles Lakers went out with their 17th ring — their first since 2010, after defeating the Miami Heat 4-2 in the finals. Arguably, a symbolic honor for late Lakers legend Bryant.
In this new era for the team, LeBron James and Anthony Davis stepped up to guide the squad, with James winning the MVP of the finals honor.
It has been the most peculiar championship in history. No fans around to celebrate, no feel of the outside world. Just mentally strong professionals focused on their goal.
The NBA encouraged its players to wear slogans of social justice on their jerseys heading in the bubble, while a “Black Lives Matter” sticker was printed on the court. Yet, this wasn’t enough to send out a strong message to the world.
Outside the sterile environment in the bubble and more than 1.200 miles north, African American civilian Jacob Blake was shot by the police on August 23, causing a chain of reactions around the world and shedding light on police brutality against black people in the US.
The Toronto Raptors were the first team to reportedly consider a boycott two days after the news broke out, though the decision ultimately came by the Milwaukee Bucks, who boycotted game 5 of the playoffs against the Orlando Magic. Their decision further affected the other four NBA teams scheduled to resume playoff series that day, as Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers all said they would not play.
A significant call that demanded change more than a slogan on a jersey could ever do.
Giannis Antetokounmpo wins second straight season MVP
Regular-season best Bucks had more expectations for the bubble, and so did Giannis. A defeat to the later on season finalists Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs and an ankle injury that didn’t permit the Greek Freak to play in the last game of the series, however, added up to a not-so-spectacular finale.
Regardless, Giannis’ feat is still of critical importance. 25-year-old Antetokounmpo is the 12th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVPs, and the first since Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) to win both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) in the same season.
As the new season drew near, the NBA world sat on the edge of its seat, as the two-time MVP was considering his free-agency options. In the end, Giannis opted in for the 5-year, $228M supermax extension with the Bucks, signing the largest contract in NBA history.
“Don’t call me an MVP until I win a championship”, said Giannis in his Athens, Greece residence when the announcement dropped. With a future now secured with the Bucks, it’s the best time to chase after this goal.
We’ve seen how Giannis won consecutive MVPs, now it’s time to Luk-ahead to the future. 20-year-old Doncic ranked fourth in the overall voting for the MVP honor, behind Giannis, LeBron, and James Harden after a breakthrough season with the Dallas Mavericks.
For a player who’s just entering his third season in the NBA, Luka has received a lot of hefty criticism, even unjustified so. Yet the answer to his critics came through what he knows to do best throughout the season: live up to his “sensational” remark.
Cold-blooded Doncic was there to lift the Mavs to an overtime win in Game 4 of the 2020 playoffs against favorites Clippers with a game-winner when Shaq was “not impressed”. He was there to break multiple records in the season with triple-doubles upon triple-doubles and brushed off the “hate” comments with humor.
And this was just the beginning. Hold on for a very exciting season for the Slovenian superstar.
The word of mouth has been around for several months and Carter decided to call it a day after 22 long seasons on June 25. Another peculiar event for the year, as the eight-time All-Star and 1999 Rookie of the Year could not retire in his or his fans’ desired fashion.
With the pandemic putting the United States under siege, no flashy farewells or honorary games could actually take place to celebrate Carter’s greatness, putting a non-deserving end to the career of the 2000 Olympics gold medalist.