LOS ANGELES — Andrew Bernstein, was there to capture the moment the Los Angeles Lakers won their first championship in a decade. The legendary NBA photographer spent 53 days in the NBA bubble.

Over the course of a four-decade career, he's captured almost every big moment in the league, but he never experienced anything like the bubble.

What You Need To Know

  • The Lakers begin preseason Friday night against the Clippers

  • There will be no NBA Bubble this season, despite the COVID-19 surge

  • The NBA has player Prohibitions for players to ensure a successful season

  • There could be a potential requirement for NBA players to get a Covid-19 vaccine

“I’m a little bit humbled by the fact that I’m in the middle of that, like I’m a guy who’s recording this part of the human history,” Bernstein said.

The NBA campus bubble was widely considered a success, with virtually no positive coronavirus tests, in large part, because everyone, including Bernstein, was tested every day.

“The protocols the NBA put in place seemed sort of very harsh when I first learned about them before I went,” he said.

“But once I got there, I saw why they were so stringent.”

Now a new season begins without a bubble, with all teams traveling, even though COVID-19 cases are surging across the country. The league is optimistically moving forward with enhanced safety protocols.

The league is prohibiting players from going to bars, lounges, clubs, spas, or pools. On the road, players will not be allowed to eat away from their hotel. There will also be negotiations with the NBA Players Association about potential vaccine requirements.

Meanwhile, the NBA championship-winning Lakers are getting ready for a new season, although they are prepared for possible COVID-19 disruptions.

“Not being in the bubble, I feel like it’s gonna be risky, but the league, they’re still having us test every day,” said Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

“Just trying to stay as low as possible so you're healthy and don’t have to miss games,” added Lakers guard Kyle Kuzma.

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As for Bernstein, he’ll just be happy to get back to the Staples Center and working in what has become home.

“When you’ve been removed from it for such a long period of time, nine months, it’s gonna be super fun to be back in the building for sure,” he said.

“Whatever they have to do to separate all of us from each other by zones or whatever, we’ll all have to adjust and deal with it.”

All of us will soon find out if the league can once again succeed outside of the bubble. Regardless of which way it goes, Andrew Bernstein will be there to capture it all.