Los Angeles Lakers: Time For Kobe Bryant To Change His Mentality

ByMike Pendleton|

Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant has done legendary work for the Los Angeles Lakers during his entire career with the organization. He’s got five championships and one league MVP trophy (2007-08) with the Lakers, while the team has won seven conference championships and eight division titles during his time.

He’s the franchise leader in points scored and that includes a magical 81-point performance for the “Black Mamba,” but as the 2015-16 season approaches, with his career nearing the end, it’s time for Bryant to change his mentality.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: NBA Finals History: Ranking The Last 50 Champions

Bryant has always been a winner and at certain points that has cost his team in their building of the future without him. Most recently he has driven Dwight Howard to Houston and the storied franchise has gone from having title hopes to having top lottery picks in the draft.

The Lakers have been linked to free agent LaMarcus Aldridge, but after just one meeting it was said that Kobe’s presentation–along with other factors–made Aldridge steer away from Lakerland. While that might change due to Thursday’s report of the Lakers and Aldridge having a second meeting, it’s becoming clear that it’s time for Kobe to change it up.

More from Los Angeles Lakers

His “Black Mamba” persona has done magic for him and his career, but he’s only hurting the organization if he is preaching about championships when meeting with free agents. No matter who they sign, the Lakers have proved over the last few seasons, they’re rebuilding and planning for life after Kobe.

Free agents don’t want to hear about they will work with Kobe, they want to find out how they fit with the organization moving forward.

Not to mention Bryant’s contract situation has handicapped the team over the last two seasons. Of course, the Lakers offered him the deal and it could be viewed as a “thank you” for his service and time, but they’ve only hurt themselves with his deal.

Instead of the team thanking Bryant, it’s time for Bryant to thank the organization and help in turning over the keys to the franchise to those who come after him.

There is a nice trio of young players set to play in L.A. this season: Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle. Clarkson surprised with his exceptional rookie season performance as he filled in after Steve Nash was ruled out for the season and Jeremy Lin started to fall. Randle was injured in the team’s opener and is still working to get back on the court in 2015.

As for Russell, the team has invested a lot into his future with the team. They passed up on their need for a big man and skipped drafting Jahlil Okafor, instead choosing the guard out of Ohio State. All in all, there is a lot of invested into these three young players, and Kobe could do right by helping in their development.

Even if the Lakers were to land Aldridge after their surprise second visit, the championship window for them is likely not open in 2015-16. The team is making moves to build their future, not help Kobe get his sixth title to tie him with Michael Jordan. The pursuit of a championship by Kobe Bryant must be given up, no matter how crazy it sounds.

He may not get his happily ever after, fairy tale ending and he may not be able to ride off into the sunset with a sixth championship ring, but Bryant is an undoubted Hall of Famer and will be talked about as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Now he must put his legacy to rest and focus on helping the winning legacy of the Lakers continue beyond his career.

More from Hoops Habit

Home/Los Angeles Lakers