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Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers’ all-time starting lineup

By Jonathan Kiernan

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Larry O'Brian trophy as teammate Shaquille O'Neal (L) hold the MVP trophy after winning the NBA Championship against Indiana Pacers 19 June, 2000, after game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers won the game 116-111 to take the NBA title 4-2 in the best-of-seven series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Larry O'Brian trophy as teammate Shaquille O'Neal (L) hold the MVP trophy after winning the NBA Championship against Indiana Pacers 19 June, 2000, after game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers won the game 116-111 to take the NBA title 4-2 in the best-of-seven series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant

2005-06 Season: 35.4PPG, 4.5APG, 5.3RPG. Scored the 2nd most points in a game in NBA History (81 points vs the Toronto Raptors).Took a team with no quality players outside of Lamar Odom to the playoffs. Ridiculously lost the MVP that year to Steve Nash and finished 4th in MVP voting. 

Runner up: Jerry West

A legend of a player. A fierce competitor. A proud father and a good man. Legends never die.

In the aftermath of the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant along with the other members of that tragic helicopter flight, stories have come out around the globe about Bryant’s generosity and his willingness to help those who were struggling.

Most recently, a story regarding 2-time NBA champion and former Los Angeles Lakers Adam Morrison from Avi Creditor of Sports Illustrated. Morrison spoke honestly about his bout with depression and how an act of kindness from Kobe helped him immeasurably.

"“The night he passed, I’m scrolling through, reading everything, and I’m emotional, and on Chelsea’s Instagram page, it’s him with Didier Drogba holding up a jersey and it says ‘To Adam, Best Wishes.’ So he went up to my favorite player, got it signed for me without me even asking, and sent it to me when he knew I was low. It’s unbelievable. I still have the jersey. That’s what Kobe Bryant was. He’s just one of those dudes who understood his own aura and could sense when people were down.”"

It speaks to the man Kobe was that he reached out to a former teammate in a time of need and gave him a boost. A simple act of kindness can change someone’s life and I’m certain Kobe has done many other acts of kindness like this over the years.

R.I.P Mamba & Mambacita.

On the floor, there are no competitors outside of maybe Michael Jordan who brought the same tenacity, hunger, and yearning to be the best player they could possibly be than Kobe Bryant.

Upon Bryant’s final game against the Utah Jazz, after he scored 60 points to finish a storied career, Kobe was asked would he ever come back to the NBA in the near or distant future.  His answer was definitive “No”.

While this was disappointing for Lakers fans and fans of the NBA to hear, for those who followed Kobe’s entire career and saw the level of intensity he brought to the game, it was easy to understand why it was a no.

Kobe had given every ounce of his being to basketball, he bled for the sport, missed endless days with his children and wife for the sport, and gave more than half his life to the sport. He had given us everything he had and that was more than enough.

It was time for Kobe the father, husband, and a creative mind. He was at peace with his decision and I’m certain that his next 20 years were going to surpass his previous 20.

Unfortunately, the World was robbed of this in such a cruel and horrific way.

Kobe’s game will live on forever. The legend of Kobe the competitor will be passed on from generation to generation. His teachings of being the hardest worker in the room, giving your all to your craft, and playing the game the right way will inspire future players to be like Kobe.

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