What happens if Kobe never makes it to LA?

[Beau]

Say he actually does end up in Charlotte, stays there for his entire career or only moves onto another team that's of comparable stature, market, means, etc. Does he ever become 'Kobe Bryant'?

He was an immature high-school kid coming out. Even in the structured, professional and winning environment of the Lakers organization his personality threatened to prevent the team from meeting its potential - can't imagine how all of his antics and immaturity would have played out on a young team he was charged with leading... how that would mold both he and his image moving forward in the league.

Let's face it, Kobe's been coddled with more talent and means than any star of his generation - the Lakers are spending $21M more than the Spurs this year, for example, and we all know what the Lakers prestige and location has done for them when it comes to acquiring talent.

We all saw what happened when Shaq left. We all saw how it took him being humbled a bit by the losing from 2005-07 to accept and embrace the help of another All-NBA player in Gasol to get him back to the top.

Basically, it's hard not to imagine Kobe becoming an All-World talent on a bad team. Almost a Mitch Richmond of sorts, only more talented and more of a malcontent.

Food for thought...

[namlook]

Wherever he was they would have put talent around him and he would have won. Comparing him to Mitch Richmond is really bizarre. There's a huge chasm between the talent level of those two players.

Kobe has only had the benefit of one potential Hall of Famer on the five championship teams.

Bird had three and sometimes four Hall of Famers including two HOF bigmen at the same time. Magic always had two including a 6 time MVP. Neither Bird nor Magic have won more rings despite having more talent around them.

[Donkeybong]

[BlackSwordsMan]

Favorite part of the movie is when the girl is standing on a corner and pulls up her skirt and a falls out.

[Beau]

Wherever he was they would have put talent around him.

Would it have been good enough for him? Not all teams can spend like LA and attract players the way they can...

[Giuseppe]

The best thing he ever did was eliminate college. The second best thing? He told Stern exactly where he was going. The third best thing? He skimmed the cream offin' Daddy and then ran him off. Fourth best thing? He hired that JYD broad as his mouthpiece and then turned her loose in a Colorado courtroom. Fifth? He grabbed a hammer & a tong and took off after Buss after he quit Vs. Phoenix. Sixth best thing? He let Artest see him nude in the showers. Seventh best thing? He used Ariza and then ran him off. Eighth? Made a man outta Odom by dangling Artest (carrot) in front of him. Nineth? He acknowledged Fish when Fish slapped him upside the sucker early on in Game 7. Tenth? He let Artest make a monkey outta Pierce last June, late Game 7.

[John Basedow]

the best thing he ever did was eliminate college. The second best thing? He told stern exactly where he was going. The third best thing? He skimmed the cream offin' daddy and then ran him off. Fourth best thing? He hired that jyd broad as his mouthpiece and then turned her loose in a colorado courtroom. Fifth? He grabbed a hammer & a tong and took off after buss after he quit vs. Phoenix. Sixth best thing? He let artest see him nude in the showers. Seventh best thing? He used ariza and then ran him off. Eighth? Made a man outta odom by dangling artest (carrot) in front of him. Nineth? He acknowledged fish when fish slapped upside the sucker early on in game 7. Tenth? He let artest make a monkey outta pierce last june.

Giuseppe

[Fpoonsie]

Favorite part of the movie is when the girl is standing on a corner and pulls up her skirt and a falls out.

What the kinda movie IS this?

[Beau]

The best thing he ever did was eliminate college. The second best thing? He told Stern exactly where he was going. The third best thing? He skimmed the cream offin' Daddy and then ran him off. Fourth best thing? He hired that JYD broad as his mouthpiece and then turned her loose in a Colorado courtroom. Fifth? He grabbed a hammer & a tong and took off after Buss after he quit Vs. Phoenix. Sixth best thing? He let Artest see him nude in the showers. Seventh best thing? He used Ariza and then ran him off. Eighth? Made a man outta Odom by dangling Artest (carrot) in front of him. Nineth? He acknowledged Fish when Fish slapped him upside the sucker early on in Game 7. Tenth? He let Artest make a monkey outta Pierce last June, late Game 7.

So that's what happened. But what happens if he doesn't make it to LA, that young, immature, spoiled, aloof brat he was entering the Draft? (And that's just speaking to who he was then and the upbringing he had.)

You know the dude, Cully. Pros and cons. What do you think becomes of him and his career if he never plays in LA but Charlotte or a comparable franchise?

[Zelophehad]

This thread fails due to ignorance; the Lakers were anything but a "structured professional...environment" when he got there. Van Exel v. Harris, Ceballos v. Harris, Elden Campbell, firing Harris, bringing in Rodman to create a midseason circus atmosphere for two weeks...etc.

They had talent but they didn't have a structured professional environment until Jackson came in. He garnered the players respect and created that environment.

[Beau]

What the kinda movie IS this?

Winning?

[hater]

Shaq wins 6 straight

[crc21209]

Then the Charlotte Hornets would still probably be around...

[Booharv]

Yeah, the Lakers were in turmoil for much of the nineties. He landed on a talented team so that helped, but it wasn't some great environment by any means.

[hater]

What the kinda movie IS this?

yeah what movie is that??

[Beau]

This thread fails due to ignorance; the Lakers were anything but a "structured professional...environment" when he got there. Van Exel v. Harris, Ceballos v. Harris, Elden Campbell, firing Harris, bringing in Rodman to create a midseason circus atmosphere for two weeks...etc.

They had talent but they didn't have a structured professional environment until Jackson came in. He garnered the players respect and created that environment.

That's bull . The Lakers are and were the Lakers. There may have been flux on the roster and they may have not been the best they ever were upstairs as they rebuilt after Magic left the stage, but they were still the Lakers. Still had the ownership, prestige and more than a enough basketball a en guiding the franchise. They just needed a Shaq to get to the next level and a Phil to take the reins.

But as for entering the League as a young player? LA then is still more than ideal than just about any other franchise he could have gone to - long-term.

[Giuseppe]

So that's what happened. But what happens if he doesn't make it to LA, that young, immature, spoiled, aloof brat he was entering the Draft? (And that's just speaking to who he was then and the upbringing he had.)

You know the dude, Cully. Pros and cons. What do you think becomes of him and his career if he never plays in LA but Charlotte or a comparable franchise?

I won't do it, Beau. He never had any intention of going anywhere besides the Lakers. That was it. He knew he was "special." He knew he could dictate the terms of his destiny even that early on, and had absolutely no hesitation in executing that destiny for his own benefit.

Here's a query:::do you think he's ever looked back in regret/sans CO.?

[lefty]

What the kinda movie IS this?

+1

[Giuseppe]

I just hope Swords was the star in it.

[TheMACHINE]

Say he actually does end up in Charlotte, stays there for his entire career or only moves onto another team that's of comparable stature, market, means, etc. Does he ever become 'Kobe Bryant'?

He was an immature high-school kid coming out. Even in the structured, professional and winning environment of the Lakers organization his personality threatened to prevent the team from meeting its potential - can't imagine how all of his antics and immaturity would have played out on a young team he was charged with leading... how that would mold both he and his image moving forward in the league.

Let's face it, Kobe's been coddled with more talent and ipmeans than any star of his generation - the Lakers are spending $21M more than the Spurs this year, for example, and we all know what the Lakers prestige and location has done for them when it comes to acquiring talent.

We all saw what happened when Shaq left. We all saw how it took him being humbled a bit by the losing from 2005-07 to accept and embrace the help of another All-NBA player in Gasol to get him back to the top.

Basically, it's hard not to imagine Kobe becoming an All-World talent on a bad team. Almost a Mitch Richmond of sorts, only more talented and more of a malcontent.

Food for thought...

Can someone from a parallel universe please answer this question?

[Beau]

I won't do it, Beau. He never had any intention of going anywhere besides the Lakers. That was it. He knew he was "special." He knew he could dictate the terms of his destiny even that early on, and had absolutely no hesitation in executing that destiny for his own benefit.

If you won't do it, you won't do it. But the question's posed to see how much of his success is tied to being a Laker and not just his undeniable talent and ability to translate it to a team game.

Here's a query:::do you think he's ever looked back in regret/sans CO.?

Actually, I kind of do. But only because of his personality, good/great never being good/great enough.

Most would probably look back and think " ... Probably could have done a little better and had a little better outcome, but it's hard to complain. How many people can say they've done what I've done," or something to that effect.

I don't think Kobe genuinely looks at that with a normal perspective. If he could go back and change to enhance himself and his career, he would. He wouldn't be content with the end result if he could better it - even if that meant more work or pain in the process. Good enough is never enough, methinks.

That's the way I view Kobe and his mindset.

[midnightpulp]

He has no championships.

Without the pedigree, prestige, and the endless pockets of the Laker organization, Kobe's career would likely parallel McGrady's or Vince Carter's. He's definitely better than those players (prime McGrady was every bit as good as Kobe, however), but unless the team he's on surrounds him with a top 3 frontline, it's doubtful that he would win a championship.

Kobe's not the kind of player that would be able to take the '96 Charlotte Hornets, or another similar small market franchise, and vault them into the NBA's elite.

[Gutter92]

If he wasn't in LA, he airballs 4 shots for Charlotte in the playoffs, there is no Shaq daddy to talk to him while he's sobbing on his way off the court, his confidence is forever ruined, he becomes a 20 ppg player never to leave the 2nd round.

[midnightpulp]

And I don't know why Lakers fans have such a problem admitting that Kobe has played alongside more talent than any other superstar in the post-Jordan era. It's a testament to their organization that they were able to do such. Many franchises waste their superstar's prime years by pinching pennies and making idiotic personnel decisions, e.g. The Minnesota Timberwolves, so this is something Lakers fans should celebrate, not scoff.

Kobe is indeed overrated, but the Lakers organization isn't, and the latter is all that should matter. Unless of course you're a history2b or TheMachine who roots for the back of the jersey and not the front.

[TheMACHINE]

And I don't know why Lakers fans have such a problem admitting that Kobe has played alongside more talent than any other superstar in the post-Jordan era. It's a testament to their organization that they were able to do such. Many franchises waste their superstar's prime years by pinching pennies and making idiotic personnel decisions, e.g. The Minnesota Timberwolves, so this is something Lakers fans should celebrate, not scoff.

Kobe is indeed overrated, but the Lakers organization isn't, and the latter is all that should matter. Unless of course you're a history2b or TheMachine who roots for the back of the jersey and not the front.

Lol midnight thinking I'm a kobe fan boy