As that confetti engulfed the court in Orlando, Lakers guard Avery Bradley
was jumping up and down, celebrating the franchise's 17th championship in his
living room in Texas. His three children were in purple-and-yellow Lakers
sweat suits.
"Everyone was going crazy," Bradley said over the phone on Sunday night.
"Everyone was excited. My wife was excited."
In late June, Bradley told the Lakers' front office that he was opting out of
the NBA restart in Orlando. His 7-year-old son, Liam, has a history of
respiratory illnesses. Bradley and his wife, Ashley, worried Liam wouldn't be
cleared to join the family at Walt Disney World, even when the league
expanded the bubble to include guests.
"I think it is something that is hard, obviously, not being there," Bradley
said. "But I think from the beginning I've been able to be at peace."
Since the final buzzer of Game 6, Bradley's phone has been ringing. Friends
reached out. Family members called. Bradley sent texts to all of his
teammates. He dropped a note in the team group chat