Let me get this straight right off the bat. I’m a die-hard Laker fan, but I never really liked Kobe Bryant.
If you don’t think that’s possible, think again. I know a lot of Laker fans who have always been critical of the Black Mamba, especially the ones who already bled purple and gold when Kobe wasn’t even in the league. I have been a Laker fan ever since the mid-80s, so believe me when I tell you the Lakers world does not end with Kobe Bryant’s retirement. We were alright before him and we’ll be alright long after he’s gone. In fact, the thing that gets me riled up the most is the blind assumption that just because I like the Lakers I automatically condone everything Kobe does.
His shot selection, his tendency for hero-ball and constantly crying for a foul during an ongoing possession and not running back on defense have always been unacceptable to me. And even though the good things about KB outweigh the bad things by far, I always felt these deficiences kept Kobe from being a better player.
That doesn’t mean I don’t like Kobe as a human being. I can say that because I know more about him than what you see on TV. I met him 3 times very early in his career (and mine), shook hands with him before the whole world knew who he was and had 1-on-1 interview sessions that often times had nothing to do with basketball at all.
Back then we were just two kids who were new at their first job not really knowing how to go about it. “Do a Q&A with the kid that shot 3 airballs”, they said, so I did. I had no clue how to do a proper interview and he wasn’t sure how to answer. After all I was merely 4 years older than he was. Just another short Asian guy wearing baggy jeans and sneakers.
So I fired off my questions like I didn’t care (and I really didn’t care because Kobe was not a big star back then, he was just THE ARROGANT KID THAT SHOT 3 AIRBALLS) and he answered straight without thinking too much about it. Nowadays with everyone essentially carrying a broadcasting studio in their pocket, players are more careful. Back then there was no filter. So we drifted off topic quite a few times and talked about trivial things like trying to grow a beard, Scottie Pippen mumbling when he talks and we discussed – of all things – JarJar Binks.
“People might hate him now, but I think with more perspective and a few years down the road, people might actually appreciate him.”
That’s what Kobe said about JarJar Binks when Phantom Menace came out. Well, he was wrong. More than 15 years later people still hate JarJar. The funny thing is he could have been talking about himself. People love to hate Kobe, but that old saying “You never know what you got ’til its gone” will prove to be right once again. His fans who took him for granted for all these years will miss him. And I am sure that even people who never liked Kobe will somehow miss him as well. How could you not? If you are 20 years old or younger you can’t remember a basketball world without Kobe Bryant. That’s not an assumption, that’s a fact.
When you think about it, Kobe’s a lot like your first car. You might have started out liking it, loving it even, but as time went on you grew tired of it. You noticed the shortcomings when new and more powerful cars arrived on the scene. Eventually you started to dislike your own ride and the only thing that came to mind when thinking about it were the bad things and what other vehicles did better. As you grow older you wish for a new car each and every day, but I bet you everything in the world when it’s time to say goodbye, you won’t feel so good. Nostalgia sets in and suddenly you realize it’s not about the car, it’s the memories from a time when you were younger and perhaps saw the world with different eyes. The car represents that time and getting rid of it is like losing a bit of yourself. Saying goodbye is harder than you ever thought it would be.
Kobe Bryant is like that for basketball. A lot of you reading this blogpost are from a generation that did not get to see Michael Jordan play. Whether you like it or not you grew up watching Kobe. Yes, you heard about Jordan, you have seen countless MJ clips on youtube, but there was no suspense. You already know how the story ends, when the vid is still loading. You know Jordan won six rings and dominated the NBA. He was the best there ever was, because that’s what everyone says. But the clips on Youtube are highlights, showing Jordan only at his best. Things like poor shot selection, turnovers, airballs, selfishness and failure have been cut from the clips leaving the impression he was flawless. But he wasn’t. And that’s okay. Kobe is neither.
I hope someday that will be okay as well.
Until then let’s enjoy the last four months of Kobe Bryant’s career for what they are. The end of a legendary career and the beginning of a legacy that will resonate with basketball players and fans all over the world for many generations.
Okay, maybe I liked him a little bit.
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Last Man Standing
Kobe Bryant is the only active player left of the incredible 1996 NBA class. In my opinion the best draft of all time. (From left to right standing: Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Kobe Bryant, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jermaine O’Neal, Steve Nash, John Wallace, Antoine Walker. Sitting from left to right: Ray Allen, Kerry Kittles, Samaki Walker). A.I. is M.I.A.
30 Legendary Pics – 20 Legendary Years
These are our favorite Kobe Bryant pics of all time. Thanks to FIVE-Magazine and Getty Images for providing these awesome pictures.
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The Shoe History of Kobe Bryant
All oncourt shoes Kobe wore during his 20 years in the NBA…
Kobe Bryant vs Michael Jordan – Identical Plays Part I
Kobe Bryant vs Michael Jordan – Identical Plays Part II
Kobe Bryant vs Michael Jordan – Identical Plays Part III
Top 10 Career Highlights
Top 10 Highlights of 2009
Top 10 Highlights of 2007
Top 10 Highlights of 2001
Kobe Bryant takes over in 2008 Olympics Final
All 81 points in 3 minutes
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