Kobe Bryant Admits To Turning Down Trade To Pistons In 2007

Given the recent NBA Finals runs in the late 2000s and the scoring records broken in the early 2010s by Kobe Bryant, it’s easy to forget that the waves in Los Angeles were once very tumultuous. Following an off-season where Bryant felt the Lakers did not do enough to improve the roster, Kobe Bryant demanded a trade in the late summer of 2007.

While, obviously, no deal was reached, there were rumors buzzing around. On an appearance on the Grantland Basketball Hour, Bryant was asked about a rumored potential to Detroit, which he admitted that such trade existed, but he turned it down with his no-trade clause. Bryant divulged that Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and multiple draft picks would have returned to the Lakers. Bryant admitted that the only place he wanted to go at the time was to Chicago and the Bulls.

Obviously, the trade would have been as big a blockbuster as anyone would have seen. Bryant was coming off back-to-back seasons of averaging 30+ points a game and in the 2007-08 season, he won the regular season MVP award and was undoubtedly in the prime of his career.

As we remember, Bryant stuck it out with the Lakers that season and, in early 2008, the Lakers landed Pau Gasol and the rest is history. But how different would Bryant’s career have looked if he did leave for Detroit?

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