You Are Da Man, Kobe!
Well, the town’s abuzz with news that The Mamba has finally been recognized as the League’s MVP. Word is the Commish will award him the Larry O’brien trophy soon.
First, let me just say – Kobe, we’re really, really proud of you! What you’ve accomplished is truly worthy of world-wide recognition. There were other seasons where we Lakers fans thought you probably should have won the award, and perhaps that’s even objectively true – as we all know, the world isn’t always fair – but there’s no denying that this was your year.
You showed an incredible maturity on the court this year, Kobe. You demonstrated amazing leadership, set the tone for the team’s remarkable cohesiveness and spirit, and somehow managed to balance your individual brilliance with a stunning team-improving selflessness. Has the Magic-man’s presence and legacy finally begun to sink in?
So, if it really comes to pass... heartfelt congratulations, No. 24! Whether you ever get another one of these or not (we know you’re going to continue to work as hard as ever to repeat this, and repeat being a champion), know that in the hearts of true Laker fans, you’re always an MVP!
They Call It La-La Land
Having said all that, it’s been a really strange year for Laker fans. First, it looked like we were going to lose Kobe right at the start, and at the time I wasn’t entirely sure it was a bad thing. After being caught on tape raging against Jerry Buss and management and just generally carrying on like an overserved spoiled brat (sorry Kobe), it looked like there was nothing that could be done to make the megastar happy.
Across the board, efforts were made by players, coaches and management to assauge the Kobester, but it seemed as if at every turn things only got worse. Even Jerry Buss’ personal efforts were rebuffed. In fact, Kobe acted as if he’d been personally betrayed by Buss when he said he’d entertain offers. This following Kobe’s trade demand in the first place! Go figure. I remember thinking: what a freakin’ prima-dona! Frankly, the whole thing pissed me off and I know I’m not the only Lakers fan who felt that way. It seemed like Shaq Doody all over again.
Though most of us Laker fans could understand Kobe’s ire – we were really frustrated as well – many of us thought his outbursts and outrageous behavior were uncalled for and just plain dumb. At that moment, my feeling was this: if his carrying-on could really force a trade for somebody great, then it cool.
Trade Balks
I must confess that I secretly harbored a Kevin Garnett-in-purple-and-gold fantasy for many years. And for a few moments, it even looked like it might happen. Boy was I excited. But given that Kevin McHale was his boss, and his old running mate Danny Ainge in the Boston front office, it seemed unlikely that K.G. would come to the Lakers. It now appears that the Celtics were in talks with the Timberwolves for some time. Secretly? Hmmmm...
So the K.G. deal, like many others, ultimately fell through. Kobe may have put his foot down, but the Lakers had the final say, and they dug their heels in harder. They weren’t going to give him up easily, or for anything less than serious close-to-market value. Nobody really believed, as in the Shaq trade, that any number of good or up-and-coming players could "replace" Kobe Bryant.
When Shaq pulled this same stunt a few years prior, Buss and Co. simply decided to let him go. The Doody was on the downside of his remarkable if not controversial career (unfortunately a self-inflicted and premature decline). If not actually happy about it, the organization was resigned to it. The Lakers knew there was no way to get equal value for the big man, even if he was but a shadow of his former self. Besides, his salary was bloated and was only going to worse – just like his waistline. The Lakers weren’t going to continue paying him by the pound.
Wise Is As Wise Does
In Kobe’s case, Kupchak was intent on getting something approaching equal value. Smart. Kobe Bryant still had upside, and most b-ball experts considered him the single best player in the game. I think Kupchak knew – though he never said – that it just wasn’t really possible though. This knowledge was his ace in the hole, and he also knew he had time before Kobe could contractually force a trade.
Mitch Kupchack is smart and wise. He deserves a lot of credit – perhaps most of the credit – for the Lakers’ current ascent towards greatness. He saw things in the new-look Lakers that bode well for the future – even the near future. Undoubtedly, Phil Jackson did too. There’s more than just Jeannie Buss and his custom chair that brought him back from a second hip replacement surgery.
Lakers management saw that the development of the young Lakers core was going to be the perfect compliment to Kobe, particularly the explosive improvement of phenom Andrew Bynum. His regular work with Kareem Abdul Jabbar was paying off big. Mitch, Jerry and Phil all saw that with such great young talent anchored by a gifted center, the Lakers could quickly ascend to the ranks of the elite once again.
It was like – “Where you gonna go, Kobe?”