NBA Lockout: Kobe Bryant and 5 Players Who Could Suffer Most

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Day one of the NBA lockout has officially started—which players are set to suffer the most?

All basketball players employed by David Stern and the NBA will be hampered a bit during the lockout, but Kobe Bryant and these five guys have the most to lose.

Players will all be affected—but for many different reasons.

Free agents have to live not knowing what city they will call home for the next few years or if maybe their best option is to just stay put with their current team. 

Rookies are massively affected by the lockouts; no summer league, no offensive and defensive playbooks, and most important of all—no coaching.

Veteran players aren't getting any younger, and players chasing records will be missing precious game-time that could be inching them closer and closer to those marks.

5. Deron Williams

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Deron Williams will have a decision to make during the summer of 2012—stay in New Jersey, or sign with a contender.

The New Jersey Net's will do just about anything to keep Williams, but they have to convince him that he can win in New Jersey, which they might find tough to do with the lockout. The Net's will have a smaller window of opportunity to prove to Williams that he is playing for a contender right there in New Jersey. 

If the Nets are not able to bring in other free agents during the offseason or make trades during the season—Williams may elect to sign his extension elsewhere.

4. Gilbert Areans

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Orlando Magic's $20 million dollar man appears happy as a clam on Twitter, but the absolute last thing Arenas needs is to miss more court-time.

Arenas missed 69 games during the 2007-2008 season, 80 games during the 2009-2010 season and 12 games just last year.

The Magic can not afford for Gilbert Arenas to miss more games in 2012, they need for him to get his game back in rhythm and the only way that will happen is for Arena's to get on an NBA court. 

3. Kyrie Irving

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

At least one rookie had to make this list, and it only made since to include the rookie that will have the most weight on his shoulders during his first season.

Irving was already the man who was expected to right the ship in Cleveland next year—which is a daunting enough task in its-self.

Kyrie Irving needs to be around the Cleveland facilities and coaches to prepare himself for his rookie season—not be locked out of Cavaliers facilities and legally not be allowed to have contact with Cleveland coaches.

2. Monta Ellis

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Monta Ellis was the most talked about trade name before the lockout other then Dwight Howard, despite no trade ever coming full circle. 

Ellis's days in Golden State have appeared numbered for sometime, and when the Warriors drafted shooting-guard Klay Thompson with the first round pick in the Draft—the writing was on the wall for Ellis.

It has to be an upsetting feeling for Ellis to not know if, or when Golden State will trade him. At this point, all Ellis can do is sit back and relax; maybe try to find an inch of clear skin on his body that he can ink-up. 

1. Kobe Bryant

Harry How/Getty Images

It's hard to fathem—the NBA's most prolific player affected most by the lockout?

Yes. 

If Kobe Bryant is going to become the NBA's all time leading scorer, the last thing he needs is to miss any games.

Kobe currently sits sixth on the NBA's all time scoring list with 27,868 points, nearly 10,000 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Bryant is 32 years old, but it's not like his 25 points per game last year showed it, so he has a legitimate shot at capturing the record.  

It's an up-hill battle for Kobe to catch Kareem, but a lockout is the last thing Kobe needs.

Kobe Bryant is the ultimate competitor and not being able to play basketball alone is going to eat away at him probably more then it will for any other NBA player—but he will have to make up ground if any serious time is lost during the 2011-2012 season if he wants to surpass a legend.