Darryl Morey Releases Shock Statement on Lakers 'Fraudulent Ring'

Over the course of NBA history, there have been some incredible champions and some that draw disrespect from fans and peers. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Lakers, their 2020 NBA Championship in the bubble falls under the latter, with many in recent times criticizing the legitimacy and the difficulty of their run, despite beating some of the top names in the league during that stretch. 

Most of the time, that disrespect comes from fans and former NBA players, but recently, Philadelphia 76ers GM Daryl Morey was one to take a shot at their NBA crown.

"Had the Rockets won the title, I absolutely would have celebrated it as legitimate, knowing the immense effort and resilience required. Yet, everyone I speak to around the league privately agrees that it doesn’t truly hold up as a genuine championship. Perhaps the lasting legacy of the NBA bubble is that the NBA should be proud of its leadership at both the beginning and end of the pandemic, even though the champion will forever be marked by an asterisk."

This is a common criticism that many have of the Lakers and their performance in the bubble, and while Morey clarified his comments to say he didn't intend disrespect, that's how it may come across to Lakers fans. It's unclear exactly what prompted Morey to go off on this tangent or how many other General Managers around the NBA feel this way, but simply put, this is disrespect that LeBron James and the Lakers simply can't escape.