In response to a Tweet from @LakeShowHoopsPH listing some of the various injured stars this postseason, former Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy emphasized that this year's NBA champions should not be followed by any sort of asterisk:
No asterisks. The challenges of the last two seasons may have been different from those of prior seasons, but the Lakers last year and whoever wins this year met those challenges better than everyone else. Champions with no asterisks.
— Stan Van Gundy (@realStanVG) June 30, 2021
The Phoenix Suns will be one of two squads vying for the title in the NBA Finals. Atlanta and Milwaukee -- both of whom are dealing with injured stars at the moment -- continue to battle in the Eastern Conference Finals.