CLEVELAND - In team sports, the greatness of a superstar is a very funny thing. They have to integrate their brilliance into the framework of the team in order to truly prosper. Kobe Bryant now knows this quite well, and that's why the L.A. Lakers are the 2008-09 NBA champions. Congratulations Mr. Bryant and company.
Bryant, 30 earned his first ever NBA Finals MVP trophy moments after the Lakers dismantled the suddenly mis-firing Orlando Magic, 99-86 in capturing the series, 4-1 in central Florida. It was the 15th NBA title for the Lakers franchise and the 4th of Bryant's 13 season tenure, but it is the one championship that will define his scintillating career. The first three championships were won during Shaquille O'Neal's reign of NBA dominance; 2000 to 2002.
O'Neal was the impossible-to-guard-in-the-paint behemoth that co-starred with a young and petulant Bryant on those Lakers title teams. Because of the incredible edge (and his starring role on the team) that O'Neal's presence gave those L.A. teams, Kobe never received true credit for having already earned three championships coming into this series.
That is no longer the case.
It is true that Bryant came into the league in 1996 as the mega-cocky, ultra talented star of a high school team. He had delusions of becoming the greatest player in NBA history and shamelessly emulated the great Michael Jordan in nearly every aspect upon his entrance into the pros. He even sought out Jordan for advice during a Bulls-Lakers matchup in December 1997, a game in which 19-year old Kobe scored 33 points to 34-year old Jordan's 36 points.
Bryant seemed to have it all too easy. He joined an NBA team that was stacked with major talent, had the luxury of sitting the bench and learning from his polished and experienced teammates, got voted as a starter on the 1998 NBA All-Star team even though he didn't even start for his own team. He also had the great fortune of getting to play against single coverage because the opposing teams would be so focused on corralling Shaq in the paint.
His talents flourished rapidly, but his game remained immature and his palpable arrogance and defiance began to compromise his extensive talents. True, he was a dominant athlete and scorer, but as an overall leader and teammate, he was not at all impressive.
So, the Lakers won their trifecta of championships with O'Neal soaking up loads of glory for the accomplishments. That didn't sit well with the hyper competitive Bryant, who went into the '02-'03 season with a focus on dominating on offense. His midseason scoring burst earned major headlines as he averaged over 40 points for a 13-game stretch that evoked memories of MJ's early years in Chicago.
As proof of Kobe's mentality back then, he turned his final meeting with Jordan (in MJ's stint as a Washington Wizard) into a personal showcase in a transparent attempt to show he had become what Michael used to be -- the ultimate offensive weapon. That March 28, 2003 game saw Bryant fire in 42 points in the first half, then finish with 55 to Jordan's pedestrian 23. What Kobe seemed to ignore was the fact that he was a spry 24 years old while Jordan was a decade past his prime at age 40. Not to mention the fact that MJ had long before that proven to be a true winner and the quintessential leader.
Bryant's 30 points per game scoring average that season was the first thirty-plus of his career. It seemed to be a slap in the face to Shaq's importance, who put up 27.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He also shot 57% from the floor, which was proof that he was the smartest choice for volume shooting on the team. The Lakers lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the conference playoffs that season which caused tears from Bryant, and prevented the rare "4-peat" for L.A.
That summer, Kobe got tangled up in a stunning rape case in Colorado and his image took a giant hit. Already he was known as the selfish and defiant superstar that wouldn't defer more to O'Neal as he should have, but now he was being labeled a criminal and rapist. One thing he admitted to being was an adulterer, which didn't exactly win him any brownie points.
The Lakers drastically made themselves over in the 2003-04 season, adding former all-stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the team which proved disastrous. The team never clicked together and though heavily favored to win the 2004 NBA title, they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. The Shaq and Kobe soap opera reached a fever pitch during this time and their disdain for each other became more and more apparent. By the following season, three of the four stars had gone elsewhere.
Bryant remained.
It seemed as if Kobe had finally gotten his wish; now in his 9th season, he was in sole control of his own team. O'Neal was in Miami and Phil Jackson retired in the offseason. Now he could prove that he was the man all along and show off! As it turned out, the 2004-05 season was easily the weakest of Kobe's career. The Lakers won a paltry 34 games, they missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and Bryant missed 16 games to injury. Meanwhile, O'Neal's impact in Miami was immediate as he had an MVP-style season and led the Heat to 59 victories.
The next two seasons saw more frustration for Bryant. In the 2005-06 season, he dominated on offense like few others ever have in NBA history. In December, he scored a gargantuan 62 points in just three quarters against Dallas (who had just 61 as a team after 3) then registered the 2nd highest single-game point total in history with an 81-point explosion on January 22, 2006 v.s. Toronto. He averaged a career high 35.4 points on the season, the highest average since Jordan's 37.1 ppg in 1986-87. Awesome as it may have seemed, his stratospheric scoring was counter-productive to team success. It also made the Lakers a non-contender and with a mediocre 45-37 record, they scared no one.
The Lakers got bounced in the first round by the Phoenix Suns forcing them to look to the following season for hope. Kobe once again averaged over 30 (and authored several more 50 and 60 point games), but the 2006-07 season ended with yet another first round exit to the Suns.
This is when Bryant had had enough. During the Lakers' 2007 offseason, he criticized team management, repeatedly requested a trade and publicly disparaged teenaged teammate Andrew Bynum. Going into the 2007-08 season, Bryant's departure seemed guaranteed.
Then, a funny thing happened.
The Lakers began to play very well, Bynum greatly improved and Kobe seemed very pleased. Approaching midseason, Bynum went down with an injury, but Lady Luck took up residence in the Lakers front office in the form of an unbelievable trade with Memphis for all-star Pau Gasol. The Lakers gave up absolutely nothing but a perpetual bust (Kwame Brown) to acquire a man that had been outstanding his entire career. He had averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds for the Grizzlies prior to being shipped to L.A. This was seen league-wide as a major heist and all but paved the way to a Lakers NBA title.
As L.A. ran through the Western Conference playoffs, Bryant's rebirth was evident. In just a matter of months, his firm trade demands had vanished and were replaced by obvious joy and satisfaction. That joy turned into vengeful focus after the made over Boston Celtics trounced them in the 2008 NBA Finals. After a 39-point shellacking in Game 6, Bryant vowed that 2009 would be very different.
And it was.
In spite of the grandiose hoopla surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers and their megastar LeBron James, the Lakers stayed consistently efficient. They marched to a 65-17 record, second to the Cavs and went into the playoffs as the clear favorite to emerge from the West. All season, hoops fans seemed to anticipate a Finals showdown between Bryant and James, the top two stars in the game. As it were, the team that the Lakers faced in the Finals was the same team that shockingly manhandled the Cavs out of the playoffs.
LeBron had been named league MVP, and in many circles many felt that he had eclipsed Bryant as the game's pre-eminent talent. In any event, the Lakers mowed down every opponent out west, then shut down Orlando's vaunted 3-point attack with ease. The Magic's brick house star, Dwight Howard was rendered ineffective for much of the series and was exposed as having a very limited offensive arsenal. Through it all, Bryant was magnificent as he averaged 32.4 points and 7.4 assists in the series, a five-game triumph that saw the 13-year icon wear a perpetual scowl on his face. His focus was so singular, it was hard not to root for the man even if you hated him as a player or person.
Of course, Phil Jackson made history as he became the first coach in NBA history to win 10 NBA championships. Forget the talk of his job being a breeze since he coached Jordan, Scottie Pippen, O'Neal and Bryant. This guy can truly coach. But as amazing as Jackson's accomplishments have been, this game, this series and this season belongs to Bryant. It had been seven long years since he last won a title, and the aforementioned trials and tribulations he has endured has matured him. Yes, he still knocked in 32 plus per game, but he plays the game in a very selfless way these days. He doesn't mind being a decoy or facilitator now. He relishes moments when his teammates make major plays and earn the glory such as Derek Fisher's dagger 3-pointers in Game 4 or Trevor Ariza's consistent excellence all series long.
It is this understanding of the marvelous benefits of the system that has allowed for Bryant's evolution. He has ascended closer to the top of the NBA Mt. Rushmore by being less of an individual and more of a cog in a machine.
Let's give Kobe Bryant his due. He is officially a legend.
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