Los Angeles Lakers: Reasons Why Kobe Bryant's Unhappiness Is a Problem

Between his recent divorce and the Los Angeles Lakers' foolish handling of the trade market, Kobe Bryant has a lot to be unhappy about.

That unhappiness is a major problem for the Lakers. Kobe and the Lakers are almost synonymous, and if Kobe is unhappy, that means the Lakers are unhappy.

Here are some reasons why Kobe being miserable creates problems for the entire Lakers organization.

Kobe Is the Face of the Lakers

Ever since Kobe Bryant became a full-time starter for the Lakers in 1998, he has been a primary representative of the franchise.

When Shaquille O'Neal left in 2004, Kobe no longer had to share that title and became the team's centerpiece.

Kobe is so linked to the Lakers that when he is unhappy, the whole organization suffers. People can hardly think of the two as being separate, and reputations get hurt when the Lakers and their star player start having a tense relationship.

Kobe Is the Team Leader

I don't live in the Lakers' clubhouse, but one hardly needs to do that to know that Kobe Bryant is the team leader and that when his mood is bad, it affects the entire team.

Fortunately for the Lakers, the roster is made up of mostly veterans who can handle themselves when times are tough. But Kobe is the leader on the court, and when he tries to do too much and win games on his own, the team suffers.

Kobe Is Essentially the Lakers' Spokesperson

The media have been going to Kobe Bryant for postgame interviews and comments routinely over the course of his career, as they should. This has led to a situation where Kobe has essentially become the Lakers' spokesperson.

When Kobe said he disapproved of the Lamar Odom trade, it created a distance between star player and the front office. That is something the Lakers can't afford to have.

They have put together an underwhelming 23-15 so far and look to be in good shape to make the playoffs, but these kinds of distractions will need to go away if the Lakers want to contend for a championship.

New Coach

When Mike Brown took over the Lakers' head coaching position this season, he inherited a player in Kobe Bryant that Phil Jackson once called "uncoachable."

Granted, Kobe has grown and matured incredibly since earning that label and has certainly proven that he is, in fact, coachable, but it still holds true that the player may be bigger than the coach in this situation.

Brown is already off to a so-so start. The last thing he needs is his best player sulking around instead of helping him out.

Final Word

There aren't many stats that can back up the argument that having your star player unhappy is good. Fans looking for some numbers need not look at the Western Conference standings, where the Lakers currently sit in fourth place.

Kobe Bryant won't be requesting a trade or getting himself suspended anytime soon, but he would be wise to walk into the Staples Center each day with his emotions in check.  Nobody wants a cancer in the locker room, and while Kobe is without a doubt far from that, even a little depression can rub off on teammates.

The Lakers will make the playoffs again in 2012, but the length of their run will depend a lot on how team chemistry is coming together. Kobe is the centerpiece of that chemistry. He will be needed as a non-depressed leader come playoff time.