That night the 1996 draft tension could be cut into the meeting room of the Lakers . Jerry West , a history of the franchise now work manager, breathing relieved in each round passed without any team he chose to that lanky kid he dreamed since I saw him in action with just 17 years in a private test. The Lakers had hatched a plan to seize him, Kobe Bryant showed signs, but whose youth backed down to most franchises. The way to take him to Los Angeles was to convince the Hornets, who selected him in the 13th and transferred to the Lakers for Vlade Divac . An operation at that time few imagined that would change forever the history of the NBA.
Kobe Bryant this morning which played his last game as professionally has been the great protagonist of the last two decades in the NBA. A special player, unable to never settle and continuous learning. Twenty years leading the Lakers, who he led the ring five times, and chasing the shadow of Michael Jordan. the legend of the Bulls was his model and his obsession. The player who aspired to emulate. The largest in history, whose six rings have long stayed away from Bryant.
The decline of the Lakers in recent years also engulfed Kobe. Unable to overcome the departure of Pau and leading a failed reconstruction, Bryant announced earlier this season his farewell after two years of continuous injuries.
Gone were the happy years with Phil Jackson, the coach who best understood his play and that made him champion five times in two different stages. In the first, just three years after arriving in the league, he had as squire to Shaquille O'Neal , with whom he formed an almost invincible couple that led the Lakers to achieve three championships in a row (2000-2002). If its hegemony lasted was the clash of egos, perhaps the biggest problem of Kobe, which cost him assimilate the power forward role rob him in those final.
The emergence of Pau Gasol
Progress Bryant O'Neal left as the undisputed leader of the Lakers, but
left the franchise adrift for several years. Kobe was still one of the attractions of the league, but the team was resisted titles. In 2008, the guard put a name on the table Mitch Kupchak. If I wanted to win again, he had to sign a such Pau Gasol, a Spanish lanky power forward who triumphed in the Grizzlies disastrous. Alas few weeks, Kupchak had Kobe wishes reality.
"Without it would have been impossible to win these two championships. It is a great player. He was my brother and will always be my brother , "admitted a few weeks Bryant makes discuss Pau Gasol. Together they returned to the Lakers at the top with three finals and two rings, the last of the franchise angelina (2009 -2010). Years in which Bryant dreamed overcome the legend of Jordan and which gave him time to win even two Olympic medals.
The breakdown of the Lakers champions and injuries broke that longing and forced Kobe to say goodbye. A march has become an ongoing tribute in all fields over the past few months and that will have today against the Jazz at Staples Center his epilogue. The final farewell of one of the greatest players in NBA history whose origin was marked by chance in that draft night, and then he was instructed to lead to successful career based on tenacity and work ethic. a spirit that has led the way for new generations, as happened to him with Jordan , watching the figure of Kobe as a model with which to grow.
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