Kobe Bryant earned plenty of accolades in his first few NBA seasons. It became evident pretty quickly that the Los Angeles Lakers had a good player on their hands, and by the time the team won its first title of the Phil Jackson era, Bryant was one of the league’s star players.
Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal clashed incessantly over each other’s roles on the court, with each player implying that the offense should go through him. They maintained an on-again, off-again relationship and won a couple more championships, but it couldn’t last.
And it didn’t.
Both Shaq and head coach Phil Jackson left before the 2004-2005 season, raising questions about Bryant’s attitude.
But before suffering (for lack of a better word) the losses of O’Neal and Jackson, Bryant lost his dignity. Rape accusations entailed an ugly saga that spanned a good portion of last season, and a remorseful Bryant admitted to the country that he had indeed cheated on his wife.
He repaired his relationship with his spouse, but he didn’t offer gifts to the public, and Bryant will have to deal with critics for the rest of his career.
With all of that behind him, he’s left-finally-with basketball. The era of Bryant as unquestioned leader and focal point of the Lakers is underway, and the early returns are, well, uninspiring.
A few things have become clear this season, with the foremost being that Bryant cannot carry the Lakers by himself. Not even close. With the Lakers fighting just to make the playoffs, the impact that Shaquille O’Neal had on the franchise is painfully evident.
The flattering comparisons to Michael Jordan have lessened considerably. Now we know better.
So maybe Kobe Bryant isn’t the second coming of MJ. Maybe he doesn’t make the players around him better. Does Bryant’s on-court character signify selfishness, or mortality?
Bryant’s playing style isn’t (by itself) enough to characterize him as selfish. Bryant’s off-court issues have compounded matters, however.
Through the fall from grace and the boos, Bryant’s level of play has remained consistent.
Bryant continues to put together a brilliant career, one that will almost certainly garner Hall of Fame credentials. Bryant will have no trouble climbing the record books.
Regardless, Bryant’s legacy could ultimately rest on whether or not he can take the Lakers back to the NBA Finals. Even if he does, Bryant’s name may never command the reverence of "Jordan" or "Bird" or "Russell." Perhaps it shouldn’t.
Bryant has a long trip ahead of him, and time is on his side. Only Kobe can determine how much baggage he’ll be carrying.
