Disney World is often regarded as the happiest place on earth, but not to the Los Angeles Lakers and the other NBA teams that played in the Orlando bubble last season.
The Lakers and Miami Heat stayed in the bubble the longest as the two teams to make the NBA Finals and spent over 100 days in the bubble as a result. That is almost a third of a calendar year spent somewhere where the players were not even allowed to leave the premises.
None of the players were actually allowed at any of the Disney World parks, but they still bring back some trauma. The players were bussed from hotel to arena and apparently, would pass by the same Animal Kingdom ride on the way to every single game.
On the team’s recent trip to Orlando, the Lakers apparently drove close-by to the Animal Kingdom park. Kyle Kuzma noticed and was not happy about it.
Truu I saw animal kingdom out my eye and got a random twitch #Ptsd 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/uVbFLM4ubO
— kuz (@kylekuzma) April 27, 2021
The Lakers must have flown into the Kissimmee Gateway Airport because there is no way they would have seen Animal Kingdom if they flew into Orlando International Airport. The Amway Center is in downtown, which is north of Orlando International. Animal Kingdom is south of Orlando International.
The only ride that makes sense for them to see from the bus is Expedition Everest. It is the only ride in that park that would be big enough to see from a distance, as even flying into Kissimmee does not put the team that close to the parks.
Kyle Kuzma’s Animal Kingdom trauma did not impact his play in the Los Angeles Lakers-Orlando Magic game.
Kyle Kuzma had a decent game against the Orlando Magic. He was not great by any means but he definitely had a solid game. Kuzma scored 14 points with seven rebounds. He shot 5-9 from the field and 4-6 from beyond the arc.
If anything, the reminder of the 100 days in the Orlando bubble locked Kuzma in so he could get out of the city as soon as possible.
I don’t doubt that the experience of playing in the bubble was a tough one for everyone evolved, even if they were playing basketball while doing so. Being confined for that long, without seeing your family, has to be extremely tough.
But at least Kyle Kuzma and the Los Angeles Lakers can say that they got a championship out of it. The other 21 teams that went into the bubble cannot say the same.