L.A. Lakers Trade Rumors: Kobe Bryant Should Not Be Lakers' Leader
The Los Angeles Lakers are sticking by their No. 1 guy.
Kobe Bryant is the sixth all-time scorer in the history of the game, and without a doubt has been sitting forefront in the car leading the franchise throughout Western Conference domination. With some assistance from those around him in similar jerseys, Kobe Bryant has been able to achieve some pretty miraculous things.
But this is still one of the more competitive sports in athletics.
The game is ever-changing and there are always younger options to replace the greater competitors of yesterday. The stars of tomorrow are waiting to be crowned and be able to take charge of already established dynasties like that of the L.A. Lakers.
The problem lies in the fact that neither the fans nor the organization will let go of the leadership of one of the most marketable men on the planet. I am not saying that he should be counted out, but maybe the Lakers should be looking more towards the future than grasping onto Bryant’s wilting numbers and performance of the past.
Do not count Kobe out completely. But there needs to be many more dynamic players around him than before. Next season, he will not always be the team’s leading performer and no one should expect him to be. Even after the fact being proven time and time again, everyone looks to Bryant to close out games with scoring spurts that he rarely exudes anymore.
When he does take a handle of the ball and tries to outperform his previous quarters, it means less and less to a victory than ever before.
Pau Gasol’s collapse would have meant zilch if Kobe Bryant was able to carry the team on his own. In Game 4 of the Western Conference Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, Bryant would have been able to score more than 17 points on 7-of-18 field-goal shooting.
Kobe will be the Lakers’ landmark player, but he can no longer suffice adequately as the most important player on the team anymore.
The younger generation of the Lakers must honor his responsibility on the team as well as understand that theirs is much more vital to success.
A lot of people defend Kobe Bryant’s position in the league because his numbers have remained steady. But that should attribute more to my point than the majority. If Bryant’s contributions were the most important and they remained consistent with last year’s Finals-winning postseason, why were his numbers unable to get the job done like before?
People want to say that it makes more of a difference when he shoots less and gets his team involved more. Former coach Phil Jackson exhibited knowledge of that notion by getting Bryant more involved with the ball in his hand instead of being such a catch-and-shoot guard. However, that was in the New Orleans series.
When facing the Dallas Mavericks, who are not lacking years in the age department, Kobe Bryant was not able exploit either power in his game. In Game 1, we saw a spurt of Bryant that could possibly give the team hope throughout the rest of the series.
Then he fell flat.
There was nothing he could do and it was not because Dallas’ defense was stifling. He was just not playing good enough to make his team competitive.
The approach that coaches take with Kobe now is that they need to evaluate what’s best for Kobe Bryant and the team simultaneously. It is commonly speculated that the answer to both questions is for the greater good of the Lakers franchise, but that is a grave mistake to assume.
It is great for Kobe’s career that he continues to be a great shooter and driver against any defensive candidate. It is great for Kobe that he continues to carry this team, because he has been at their forefront for years now and probably will remain for years to come. It is great for Bryant that he is always addressed as the most important person on the team.
However, it is great for the Lakers that there is another established player that his teammates can look to for domination. It is great for the Lakers that there is more of a pure shooter among the ranks to take some of the pressure off of Kobe that he will not be able to live up to anymore.
Last and far from least, it is great for the Lakers to dig out the piece of Kobe that will be more so responsible for seasoning his replacement than focusing on ending his career better than Phil Jackson ended his tenure in LA.
As aware as Kobe Bryant is, there will come a time when everyone will realize he does not know when to hand off the baton. Even Michael Jordan stayed a little too long.
