Kobe Bean Bryant: Forever A Champion, Forever A Legend (Part One)
- Apr 13, 2016
- 6 min read
Kobe Bryant wins ring no. 5 against the Boston Celtics. (Via Getty Images)
"Sometimes you say Michael (Jordan) could do things Kobe does, and sometimes it's unanimous that he couldn't." -- Lakers teammate Jon Barry, Sports Illustrated, 1998
I grew up during an era in basketball where Michael Jordan was still fresh in the mind of adults and children everywhere. In Washington DC, Jordan would finish up his career with the Wizards after the 2002-2003 season. However, there was one player that would remind me of Jordan and then create a legacy of his own. His name is Kobe Bryant.
In the Beginning, There Was Kobe
"I, Kobe Bryant...have decided to skip college and take my talents to the NBA." -Kobe Bryant
That quote would send the world into into a frenzy. Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. At the time, according to Arn Tellem, who was Bryant's agent at the time, it was "an impossibility" that Bryant would ever play with the Hornets. Even though this was said, Bill Branch, who was the Hornets' head scout, said that the Hornets agreed to trade their draft pick to the Lakers before the draft had even taken place.
"He was, by far, the most skilled player we've ever worked out. By far. He's a very, very talented young player. Whether or not he plays very much here this year depends on circumstances, situations, how he develops. But he's not going to embarrass himself even at this age against these players. He's not going to do it. This is not a 17-year-old kid. Period. We think this young man is really one of the most exciting young prospects we've seen in a long time." -- West, Los Angeles Times, 1996
The Lakers had also told the Hornets who to draft before the 1996 draft. Ever since then, a star was born, but it wasn't always easy.
The Air Ball
Kobe Bryant air balls against the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals. (Via Youtube)
"There's one thing I can't believe: That the rookie, Kobe Bryant, had four airballs, but Del Harris continues to go to a rookie here in pressure situations. And he has not responded." -- Utah Jazz broadcaster Ron Boone during Game 5 of the 1997 Western Conference semifinals, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, 1997
Fast forward to Game 5 of the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals. Byron Scott had missed the game with a sprained wrist. Robert Horry was ejected for fighting with the Jazz's Jeff Hornacek, and Shaquille O'Neal fouled out with 1:46 left in the fourth quarter. Bryant shot four air balls at the end of the game and the Jazz would go on to win 98–93 in overtime to eliminate the Lakers 4–1.
Redemption
"(Being compared to Jordan) doesn't bother me. I expect to be that good." -- Bryant, Sports Illustrated, 1998
During the next season, Bryant would be the runner up for the Sixth Man of the Year award and had an All-Star appearance, where he would start against Michael Jordan. Bryant's averaged more than double the points of what he did the previous season. It jumped from 7.6 to 15.4 points per game. Bryant would also see his minutes increase when the Lakers "played small".
During the next season, Bryant signed a 6-year contract extension worth $70 million. The 1998-99 season was huge for Kobe. He started every game in the lockout shortened season. Bryant's Lakers were swept in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Kobe and Phil
"I think what has shaped this team, as far as his personality goes, is his sharpness as a person. He's very picky. He pays attention to detail. I think with this team, that was something that we lacked in the past. We had a tendency to overlook things, just see the surface." Bryant during the 1999-2000 season, "Mindgames: Phil Jackson's Long, Strange Journey", 2001
Bryant's new coach, Phil Jackson, was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999. After years of becoming better and better, Bryant became one of the best shooting guards in the league. He would go on to earn appearances in the league's All-NBA, All-Star, and All-Defensive teams.
It wasn't always an easy relationship, however. Sometimes they wouldn't see eye-to-eye and other times, they'd get into ugly arguments with one another.
Jackson's conversation with ESPN's Charley Rosen:
In an interview in GQ, Kobe didn't have anything nice to say about you. In fact, he said that he disliked you. Your reaction?
Jackson: "Ah, my good friend Kobe Bryant. ... Yes, quite often I could feel his hatred. I'm sure Kobe was pissed when I wrote in "The Last Season" that he was uncoachable. And, yes, we were often at loggerheads. He wanted more freedom and I wanted him to be more disciplined. This is a normal source of friction thing between coaches and players on just about every level of competition. But when I came back for my second stint with the Lakers, Kobe and I worked it all out. I gave him more of a license to do his thing, as long as it stayed within the overall context of the triangle. And we did win two more championships. Anyway, I've always seen Kobe as a truly great player, an intelligent guy and a remarkable person."
But, winning heals all wounds.
Three Peat
Kobe Bryant Game 4 Stats: 25 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk. Kobe Bryant 2002 NBA Finals Averages: 26.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.8 bpg.NBA Finals Game 4 (LA win series 4-0): Los Angeles Lakers 113-107 New Jersey Nets. (Via Youtube)
"The first one is, it's all a novelty and it feels good. The first one will always be the best one. The second one, the adversity we went through throughout the course of the year made that one special. And this one, it's kind of making us step in as one of the great teams. It feels great. Having a seven-game series against Sacramento, being down, 3-2, it challenged us. We responded to it. It makes this one that much more special." -- Bryant after the Lakers eliminated the Nets to win the 2002 championship, Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Lakers became championship contenders under Bryant and O'Neal. Jackson brought over the triangle offense he used to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls. This would help both Bryant and O'Neal become the greatest duo in the NBA. The three resulting championships won consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
Shaq VS Kobe
"(The Lakers) will be unmade, not before their second title this month, maybe not even before a third next year, but soon enough. They won't collapse for any on-court reason. They're too talented for that. What will kill the Lakers is ego. Nothing in (either O'Neal or Bryant's) character suggests he will be satisfied playing second banana." -- David Plotz, Slate, 2001
There was much to be made about the rivalry between Kobe and Shaq. They played on the same team, but things got very contentious between the two of them.
Shaq on why couldn't he and Bryant play more than eight seasons together:
"Again, it was two alpha males and the business aspect kicked in, and a lot of people don't know about that, the business aspect kicked in and I was getting older," O'Neal said. "Management was like, 'Hey, you're getting older we know you want this but we want to give you that.' And in my mind I was like, 'I'm not getting older, I don't want that, I don't want that,' and they just wanted to move in a new direction."
On July 14, 2004, Shaq, then 32 years old was traded to the Miami Heat for the services of Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler and a future first-round pick:
"And see, the good thing about Dr. Buss, you know Kobe said it earlier, Dr. Buss will tell you to your face. Dr. Buss called me and said, 'This is what we want to do and this is what we're going to do, if you don't accept we have to trade you,' and I always respected Dr. Buss for that. I have no problems, no quarrels with his family because that's how you do business."
"I mean it kind of is what it is, the organization wanted to go in a different direction," Bryant said of O'Neal being traded. "I think philosophically, can you imagine how many years would Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain would be playing with each other with Wilt in his prime and Michael wanting to come up -- how long is that going to last before Michael says, 'You know what, it's time for me to show what I can do.'"
Before Kobe came onto the show, an audio clip of Shaq requesting to be traded was played.
"You just played the clip where I said I wanted to be traded -- I definitely did not want to leave L.A.," Shaq said later on in the podcast. "But you know, that's how you gotta talk when you're in business, especially when you think you're in control. I definitely did not want to leave L.A. You know, a lot of stuff is said in the moment."
Phil Jackson was pretty fair to both players.
"He was really fair," O'Neal said. "He only got fed up one time and he came in and said, 'Both of ya'll need to cut it out.' And that's the only thing he said."
So who did Jackson take his frustration out on?
"Robert Horry was the whipping boy," O'Neal said. "Robert Horry used to always come in and say, 'I ain't gonna be your damn whipping boy.'"
"He used to pick on Robert all the time," Bryant added.
Part II coming soon!
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