Lakers: 5 Things That Must Happen in 2016-17 Season

Mar 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) handles the ball as Brooklyn Nets guard Donald Sloan (right) defends during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) handles the ball as Brooklyn Nets guard Donald Sloan (right) defends during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
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Moving On From Kobe

Trust me, as much as I don’t want to do it, it needs to be done. For nearly my whole life, watching Lakers games meant watching Kobe Bryant dominate on the court and inspire with his unmatched intensity and work ethic. As it will for all fans, Lakers’ games will likely seem incomplete without the Black Mamba involved.

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But, as most of us did not want to admit for the past few years, it’s time to move on. Bryant fought admirably against Father Time, yet was ultimately defeated as all players are eventually in their career.

Now with Bryant finally hanging up his sneakers for good, the attention must shift to the rest of the team and how they can usher in the next era of Lakers’ basketball.

For most, it will be hard to not constantly reminisce about the “good ol’ days,” but we can’t keep living in the past. We’ll leave that to the Celtics fans!

The new face of the Lakers may not be clear at the moment, but there are many promising options both on the roster and in new head coach Luke Walton. As hard as it is to lose a legend like Kobe Bryant, we have to move onto the next generation of Lakers and hope one of them will become an all-time great like the Black Mamba.