I’ve been noticing a ton of articles about Bryant and his requests to be traded since the Lakers first round exit in the 2007 NBA playoffs. I’m a big fan of Kobe, and I respect his game and work ethic very much, but his character off the court has always been a subject of discussion.
Although some people have labeled him as a cheat selfish ball hog, I prefer not to place judgement on Kobe solely on what the newspapers and media write. In my eyes, he’s the best basketball player in the game right now, and as huge fan of the sport in general, what I’ve seen from Kobe on court is unreal. The man has the skill set, athleticism, and drive to win that we haven’t seen since the days of MJ and his Bulls. But enough about all that. This post was written from a concerned Laker fan who wants to know whats really going on with his beloved Laker organization.
I really want to know are what Kobe’s intentions are. Does Kobe really want to go or is he just trying to shake up the team? We had chances at guys like Boozer, Kidd, and Davis but the Lakers refused to part with players or pay luxury taxes so trades fell through the floor. Kobe’s frustration with the Laker management is very evident in the interviews I’ve listened to and on his blog he has posted on his site. Are things really going this bad behind the scenes? What are the Buss’s plans for the future?
I’ve always considered myself a Laker fan first and a “player” fan second. If Kobe is traded, I’d definitely still follow and cheer for the team he is on, but if he was up against the Lakers, I’d choose the Purple and Gold to beat him every time. I’d hate to do it, but I’ve been a Laker fan for so long, cheering for anyone to beat my Lakers would be a betrayal.
I guess this is what it all boils down to. We Laker fans want to know the truth. We have the right to know what’s really going on. We fill the seats, we pay the salaries, we support the team. I’m so tired of reading rumors and trade scenarios and I simply want to know the truth. Will Kobe be with the Lakers next season? Will Buss make the moves needed to make our team a championship contender again? What did Buss promise Kobe that he did not fulfill?