LA Lakers: Kobe Bryant's Mind Games Will Keep Pau Gasol Motivated

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has been and currently is one of the best leaders in all of sports. Throughout his 15-plus-year NBA career, Bryant has shown the ability to both lead by example and be a vocal leader.

Bryant has a reason for everything he does and says, including his recent comments regarding Lakers management and all of the Pau Gasol trade rumors.

He knows by making the statements he made that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak wouldn't drop everything and deal Gasol the next day. But by including the fact the he wasn't in favor of trading the big man, Bryant accomplished everything he intended to do.

He lit a fire under Gasol.

Bryant's the master at mind games and he knows exactly the things to say and when to say them and as a leader, his mind games will keep Gasol motivated.

Why would Bryant speak out now when Gasol has been dealing with trade talk pretty much all season long?

Why would he urge Lakers management to trade Gasol now when the trade deadline isn't until March 15?

Because Bryant is calculated. He knows what he's doing.

Someone has to step up and be a leader. Phil Jackson isn't around anymore to make those type of statements. That responsibility now falls on Bryant. It's up to him to let management know he isn't happy.

No one else is going to do it.

Did Bryant change anything?

Not a chance, Gasol is still being shopped, but it's about leadership and the direction of the team and Bryant knows that this could be one of his best remaining chances to win a championship.

He also knows some guys play better when the pressure isn't on their shoulders. So if it took him coming out to let Gasol know he has his back, then that's what he had to do and will continue to do in order to keep Gasol motivated.

He also knew the Lakers had a big three-game stretch coming up before the All-Star break.

In the first two, both Lakers wins, Gasol responded with a combined 40 points and 21 rebounds.

He was especially impressive in Wednesday night's win against Dallas.

The first time the two teams met, Gasol  had one of his worst games of the season, scoring only nine points and making just one shot from the field.

Wednesday it was a different story as he scored 24 points and grabbed nine boards.

So if it takes Bryant playing mind games with Gasol to get the best out of him, expect Bryant to continue doing exactly that.

When it comes to leadership Bryant is still one of the best around.