“Orlando gives me PTSD”: LeBron James claims that he would rather retire than be traded to the Orlando Magic from the Lakers

LeBron James says that he would much rather retire than to go play for the Orlando Magic as the city gives him PTSD from being in the bubble. 

The COVID-19 that ravaged nearly the entire world in 2020 put a bevy of sporting events on hold until further notice. The NBA was not exempt from this as they were quite close to cancelling the 2019-20 NBA season. However, a more favorable decision was made as Adam Silver and league executives decided to host the remaining games and the Playoffs in Disney World, Orlando. 

The players were secluded from the outside world in a sort of ‘Bubble’ and were only allowed to bring in close friends or relatives as the Playoffs advanced. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers stayed in the Bubble for the longest time as they arrived in mid to late July and left in early October. The Miami Heat had a similar schedule due to them making the Finals.

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Much has been said about the mental toll the Bubble put on players’ minds as they were separated from their loved ones for months before having met them at around the second round mark of the Playoffs. LeBron James was especially vocal with his disdain for the NBA’s Bubble. 

LeBron James gets PTSD every time he hears of Orlando 

In a recent episode of HBO’s ‘The Shop’, LeBron James opened up about his feelings towards Orlando after having spent nearly 100 days in the Disney World resort. 

🤣 #TheShopHBO | @uninterrupted

LeBron: “Anytime I hear Orlando right now I get PTSD.”

Mav: “Orlando has no chance of free agency?”
LeBron: “They have no chance.”

Mav: “What if you get traded to Orlando.”
LeBron: “I’m not going. I’ll just retire.”pic.twitter.com/W2ejOvwk9z

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 29, 2021

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This isn’t jaw-dropping news as the general public is aware of James’s disproval of the staying in the Bubble and how it affected him and his teammates mentally. Guys like Paul George also talked about the adverse effects of staying there as he claimed it was tough for him to have no distractions and would eventually go on his phone to view content that was bashing him for his Playoff performances. 

On the other hand, guys like Steven Adams had a very nonchalant attitude towards the whole ordeal. Adams hilariously said that it’s no big deal as the resort that they’re staying at is a 5-star resort so there’s nothing to really complain about. 

Either way, Orlando Magic fans shouldn’t feel any sort of way about this in the slightest as there is no reality in which LeBron James would ever land on a rebuilding magic team in the twilight of his career.