Avery Bradley endured a rollercoaster first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning an NBA championship despite not joining the team on its title quest once the schedule resumed in the Orlando bubble.
Bradley undeniably had a valid reason to opt out of the NBA restart. The guard wanted to avoid putting his 6-year-old son at risk amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and decided to remain with his family. The issue of racial injustice that resurfaced over the summer also played a part in his decision.
But Bradley’s absence appeared to have impacted his role and significance in L.