IT’S STILL UNREAL to be described as an NBA champion. I’m very lucky and very blessed. I think each title was different, each one had their own struggles and they all were very tough. This one being in the bubble was the toughest mentally, for sure, because of the circumstances.
My first one, with the Spurs, we lost to Miami the year before, then we had a chance to come back and it was a relief—it wasn’t easy beating them in the 2014 NBA Finals. The second took five years to get back, being in Canada with the Raptors, having a lot going on there and this one being in the bubble, they’re all very tough mentally, physically, emotionally.
The bubble was draining. When my fiancée finally got to Orlando, it made things a little bit easier for a little while. I missed my dogs, too, I hadn’t seen them for three months. I have two Pomsky dogs—Gizmo (like Gizmo from Gremlins) and Nuke. They're like miniature Huskies and have a lot of energy.
When you’re in one space, it can mentally get to you. Being around the same scenery and not really getting fresh air, it was definitely draining but well worth it. It’s almost hard to put it into words but it felt like, Alright, I could probably retire a happy man right now. A dream I had as a kid has come true.
That being said, winning made me feel ultra relief. There was obviously the satisfaction of winning, but the stress relief of it being over and getting to go home. Like, we get to go back to somewhat of a normal life.
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