The Los Angeles Lakers, along with the majority of teams in the NBA, will have no fans in attendance for home games in the upcoming season. Despite experiencing no fans in the bubble this year, LeBron James still isn't comfortable playing with an empty arena.
“It’ll never be something that’s comfortable, something I can be accustomed to or something that will feel regular,” James said, via USA Today's Mark Medina. “When I first started playing organized sports, [fans] were there. It’s all a part of it. The fans are a part of this game.”
Due to the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic the NBA was forced to halt games last season. After considering their options, the league was able to manufacture a bubble in Orlando that was able to mitigate issues with COVID-19 while allowing the NBA to finish the season.
In the league's bubble, there weren't fans allowed in the arenas, with fans tuning into games through Zoom. Even though the NBA did a remarkable job to adjust to the situation, having no fans in attendance is still a weird realization.
As LeBron James pointed out, even when you're a little kid, having fans watch the games is a common occurrence. As an NBA player, who plays in front of thousands of fans, having no in-person fans is still awkward. James is so used to playing in front of packed stadiums, and it's definitely going to be strange for him to see empty seats at Lakers games.
James is one of those players that fans will travel miles to watch, regardless of what team they are fans of. But with COVID-19 still causing concern, James and the rest of the NBA will have to play in empty venues for the foreseeable future.
The Lakers will open their 2020-21 NBA campaign against the LA Clippers on Dec. 22.
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