By admin 
Kyle Kuzma’s third season in the NBA was both memorable and tough. On the one hand, he played a key role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2019-20 title run, averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. On the other hand, he claimed that the “Orlando Bubble” experience was very much like a prison for athletes.
Read more Alonzo Mourning and Dennis Rodman squash 30-year-old beef in recent HOF ceremony
With the global pandemic turning the world upside down, Kuzma said that playing hoops in such a confined and controlled environment became an afterthought, as many of them had to fight mental battles far worse than defending Jimmy Butler on the court.
A different way of life
As the entire world struggled to come to grips with the effects of COVID-19, the NBA had to do its part as well, pausing the league for a few months until it could figure out a viable way to finish the season. They finally resumed action in July with several regular-season games before the playoffs got underway.
With everyone mandated to observe strict medical and logistical protocols, Kuzma recalled that being inside Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, almost felt like being incarcerated.
“It was hard just, just being there, you know what I’m saying? Like, being in a bubble. Like, that’s not our lifestyle,”Kuzma
“Like, our lifestyle, we’d like to be extremely comfortable when we’re not on the court. You know, you want to be home. You want to be chilling in your house, your nice sofa, watching a movie. That’s what you want to do.”
“You don’t want to be in Mickey Mouse’s house in 300 square feet for three months. Like, that’s crazy, you know what I mean?” he continued. “And, you know, we like to call it a prison for athletes. That’s what it was. No, we couldn’t leave. Nothing.”
Kuzma is entitled to his opinion about the infamous “Orlando Bubble.” However, perspective is definitely in order. While everyone in that zone had to follow strict rules and regulations regarding interactions and logistics, they were free to do whatever they wanted within their respective areas.
Read more Steve Fryer’s five football topics to watch during Week 0
While dealing with isolation was definitely a big deal, otherwise, they were all allowed to engage in recreational activities like fishing and playing video games. In fact, Butler even launched his own coffee business inside the bubble.
Everyone was miserable
Kuzma, though, didn’t back down from his stance and in a post on X, remembered how everyone inside that space was “miserable.”
“No NBA player is booking a 3-star hotel, at least not while they’re playing, and it was miserable for basically every team. That’s part of why it was kind of easy to win, in a sense: once you could see the end of the tunnel, you wanted out as fast as possible,” he penned.
“We were fortunate. The Lakeshow actually wanted to be there, and that’s how we did it so seamlessly. They knew we were going to win. Guys tried to shut the whole thing down after a few weeks. It was exhausting being in there,” Kuz remarked.
Kuzma isn’t the only player who felt that way about the bubble. In fact, former NBA guard Patrick Beverley shared his sentiments about feeling locked up inside that space. But then again, compared to what most people on the outside were dealing with, they must also recognize that their amenities were way better.
Related: Monty Williams says coaching the Phoenix Suns in the NBA bubble was the most fun: “We just hooped”
Read more Dodgers Announce Lineup for Series Opener vs Rockies on Monday
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published August 17, 2026 at 2:24 PM.