As LeBron James puffed championship cigars and guzzled champagne in the wake of his fourth title earlier this month, the NBA’s landmark work stoppage, which took place only a month-and-a-half earlier, seemed a distant memory.
During three tumultuous days in late August, with dozens of players sequestered inside the “bubble” following the Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin, James and Chris Paul, the president of the players’ union, faced an extraordinary decision. James’ Lakers were ready to leave Orlando. They were hardly alone. Amid a summer of protests following George Floyd’s death after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, wouldn’t the continuation of games cheapen the cause?