The Los Angeles Lakers arrived in the Orlando bubble on July 10 with aspirations of capping off a season unlike any with a ring.
Over 100 days, 29 games, zero positive COVID-19 tests, and one title later, the Purple and Gold have finally returned to L.A.
On Monday afternoon — less than 24 hours after defeating the Miami Heat, 106-93, to secure the franchise's 17th NBA championship — the Lakers' plane touched down on the LAX tarmac.
LeBron James could be seen exiting the plane first with his Finals MVP trophy in tow. Anthony Davis, fresh off a historic performance in his Finals debut, followed closely behind James as they descended the stairs. Kyle Kuzma, Jared Dudley, JaVale McGee, Markieff Morris, and the rest of the group followed their All-Star teammates.
More than 100 days after leaving for the Orlando bubble, the Los Angeles Lakers have returned home as NBA Champions.pic.twitter.com/C4gQUZJ8hr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 12, 2020
Davis was wearing his signature “I'm Like That” tee, while Morris and Dudley were still donning their 2020 Champions tees.
The team flew SwiftAir from Orlando to L.A., landing at about 1 p.m. PT, according to CBS LA. Los Angeles Fire Department trucks welcomed the team plane by shooting water on the plane.
The team won't be able to celebrate with a parade down Figueroa St. as they have in championship seasons of the past due to the coronavirus pandemic, though that didn't stop hordes of Lakers fans from taking to the streets of downtown LA to celebrate the team's first championship since 2010.
What pandemic? Lakers fans have gathered together in numbers to celebrate their NBA Championship 😷🏆pic.twitter.com/hbYXmF3DtG
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 12, 2020
The Lakers organization is yet to announce any plans for a formal celebration.
Needless to say, Monday's images of the Lakers exiting the team plane at LAX was a far sunnier sight than on January 26, when cameras caught James and the Lakers arriving after learning of Kobe Bryant's helicopter crash while in the air. However, the contrast of images does capture a season of incredible highs, shocking lows, and unprecedented circumstances that the Purple and Gold navigated in admirably grand fashion.
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