Los Angeles Lakers: The one player who suited up with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James

Since the day LeBron James came out west to play with the Los Angeles Lakers, we have waited for a former teammate of Kobe Bryant to join him on the roster.

Kobe Bryant is the most legendary Los Angeles Lakers player in recent memory. He had many teammates over the years who were able to soak up valuable knowledge from the five-time champ. LeBron James plays for the Lakers now but hasn’t had a single player on the roster with him who played alongside Kobe. That is, until now.

I always thought it would be great to see one of the Mamba’s former Lakers teammates on the roster with LeBron. Someone who can say they got to suit up for the glamorous franchise along both of these all-time greats. There are a few guys who played with both, but their time with “The King” was spent on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. come to mind.

Back in 2018, it was reported by USA Today that Clarkson had done an interview describing the differences in playing with the two superstars. They quoted him as saying the following.

“Two different styles of leadership. LeBron, very encouraging, bringing everybody along, and Kobe, he’s testing you, seeing what you gonna give him. If he gonna get at you, he gonna scream at you, he gonna cuss, he gonna do whatever it is. He had his own way of leading guys as well. It’s two different sides. I’m just blessed to see both of them.”

After LeBron joined the Lakers, many of us hoped there would be more players who got to experience both leadership styles. There are several of Kobe’s former Lakers teammates who are still in the league and feasibly could’ve rejoined the team to play with LeBron. Nick Young could’ve been one, or Trevor Ariza. Metta World Peace was close, but too far beyond his prime by then.

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Lakers fans held out hope it could happen. D’Angelo Russell seemed a possibility during free agency. Even a lesser-known player like Tarik Black could’ve been interesting. There were many options to think of, but it didn’t seem like it would happen. There wouldn’t be a single-player to ever wear Purple & Gold alongside both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, I thought. There was, however, an unlikely candidate.

When the Lakers signed Dwight Howard in August of 2019, the thought didn’t even cross my mind. For over a year options seemed to be exhausted on who could make this idea a reality, but Howard never came to mind. When I realized it had finally happened, Howard had already been on the roster for a few weeks.

Dwight Howard is the one, the only, person to play along both Kobe and LeBron for the Lakers. He was the last guy we would expect and not the one many wanted, but the fact remains. He is the only one.

We all know that Howard didn’t particularly care for Kobe’s leadership during his first tenure with the Lakers. However, recently it seems he has realized why he leads in such fashion. Now, he will get to experience LeBron’s leadership for the first time.

Getting to play alongside both of these all-time-greats, soaking up all the knowledge, could absolutely lead to some improved play, or improved mentality. Although he is not the player that first came to mind, he is the player who gets to play for both the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers and the LeBron James-led Lakers. Hopefully, it leads to something good, or at least something interesting.

What do you guys think? Will Dwight Howard benefit from learning from these two legends? Is there another player you hoped would be the one to play with both? Let us know in the comments below!