Another subject we’ve discussed previously is the enigma of Kobe Bryant. Today, of course, Bryant is back in the news (And facing the prospect of a sluggish Spurs NBA Finals, the NBA must be rejoicing at its media juice), demanding (sort of) a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, before supposedly retreating during the afternoon.
During interviews and subsequent confirmations today, the conventional wisdom of 2004 has also flipped – apparently Kobe wasn’t completely responsible for running Shaq out of town. Also, apparently he’s dissatisfied with the course of the Lakers. Also, does anything encapsulate the shifting sports media landscape better than this? As soon as Kobe was bitching to Stephen A. Smith about his employers, the entire industry published 30 separate mock trades. As he relented later on, ESPN.com’s front page declares “We can still look forward.” And we’re all still chasing the Kobe carrot. (Yes, pot, kettle, me, I get it.)
Regardless, the whole thing is a bit absurd. First, the Lakers aren’t trading Kobe. Who are they going to receive in return? As much as the Blazers may dangle Randolph, as close as Shawn Marion is to a new contract, and as enticing as Rashard Lewis-plus-Kevin Durant may be – the Lakers just cannot receive equal value for Kobe. They cannot. Only two other stars, in my opinion, carry Kobe‘s panache – Iverson and Lebron. And they aren’t going anywhere – Kobe is much more than the Lakers’ best player, he is the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s their entire marketing campaign, their media coverage, he’s all of it.
Anyway, today Kobe demanded a trade, which he won’t get, and let’s examine the absurdity:
- If Jerry Buss supposedly “ran Shaq out of town,” as articles claimed today, well, fine. OK, it may not have been Kobe pulling the organization’s strings, sure. No one ever thought Kobe was the Lakers’ puppet master. Still, his impending and presumably massive contract negotiation in 2004 certainly was on Buss’ mind. What kind of businessman would just throw caution to the wind and assume he could sign both? From a budget standpoint, and considering the pair’s relative ages – of course Buss had to pick Kobe, and of course it was a difficult, and not necessarily popular decision. had Buss waited another year with Shaq, no way he even gets Lamar Odom for him.
- That’s not to say Bryant wasn’t above using his crosstown rivals to eke more money out of the Lakers. Did anyone believe he was signing with the Clippers? Because, honestly, if titles were all he was about, Kobe would have been a lot closer with the Clip Show.
- In fact, Bryant or his agent even had the foresight to include a $13 million payout clause in case the star was traded, similar to a signing bonus, to him. Hmmm. Suddenly he doesn’t seem like just a disgruntled employee.
And, summarily, now Bryant‘s upset because (1) He needed a mammoth contract which forced the exit of tandem All-Star O’Neal, (2) He used the crosstown Clips as a bargaining chip to gain this contract, and (3) he got this contract. And he’s miffed because the Lakers don’t have enough spare cash to build a title contender? He should be ecstatic they’re at least looking somewhat forward (Andrew Bynum) – and not taking steps back and turning themselves into the Knicks.
Of course, had this whole story played out with “Michael Jordan” in place of “Kobe Bryant,” the media would be laughing it up, celebrating the great MJ, and assuming Jordan deserved everything he asked for, even if it included control of the entire free world. With Kobe, he’s a pouter. It’s a horrible double standard.
You all know that I think Jordan is not the greatest player of all time. Yes, I’m the one. I lean toward Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Oscar Robertson. However, Jordan is probably the best 2-guard of all time. Isn’t he?
Seriously, who’s a better scorer? Jordan or Kobe? It’s Kobe.
Who was better at age 22? Jordan or Kobe? Heck, throw in Lebron. It’s Kobe.
Who is a better defender (and coasted less on reputation?) It’s Kobe.
So, if Jordan was the conventional “greatest player ever,” then Kobe must be the best basketball player we’ve ever seen. And it’s unfathomable – because Bryant has modeled himself after Jordan in every way. His look, his endorsements, his game, his interviews, his PR, even his indiscretions, are the exact copy of MJ. Yet, somehow MJ was beloved by everyone, and Kobe is largely despised. It’s a mystery, an enigma, and even though I don’t care for either in particular, it’s a frustration.
Anyway, putting all that aside, the gist of the story is that the great Kobe Bryant got what he wanted. Now he’s not happy. A superstar’s – and an enigma’s – day in the life. Would be nice if there were some poetic justice to this non-story. Maybe an impending trade to the Heat – Kobe and Odom for Dwayne Wade and Shaq? We can dream, right?
