5 players who are building their legacy in the NBA bubble

By Luke Duffy | Sep 11, 2020

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 28: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena on January 28, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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NBA bubble (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The NBA bubble has been a huge success, and for these five players, it has helped them to build on their legacies as well.

The word legacy is thrown about in NBA circles far too often. The exploits of a particular player can be quickly forgotten, the next time that they fail or are shown up on a big stage, perhaps one like the NBA bubble. Nobody is impervious to this, and in actual fact oftentimes the bigger the name, the quicker people are to tear them down.

LeBron James is the most famous example in the league today. Somebody who, no matter what he does or how he does it, will be deemed to have failed in some way. He is not alone though, and right now it is the turn of presumptive two-time regular season MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to come in for some harsh criticism.

His Milwaukee Bucks having crashed out of the postseason at the second hurdle against the Miami Heat, despite looking for most of the regular season as the title favorite. Their collapse was bad, and no matter what happens with Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee (he can leave as an unrestricted free agent after next season), his next moves will come in for criticism.

But what about the players who have seen their stock go in the other direction? The guys who came into these playoffs and have either lived up to, or in most cases on this list, exceeded expectations?

Breakout seasons happen every year during the regular season when teams go through ups and downs and superstars don’t go full throttle across 82 games. It is much harder in the postseason though, and no matter how their respective seasons end from this point, if they haven’t already, their time in the bubble enhanced their reputation.