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Los Angeles Lakers: A Guide To Enjoying The End Of Kobe Bryant’s Career

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during 120-109 loss against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during 120-109 loss against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is introduced before the game against the Sacramento Kings at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Don’t Forget Prime Kobe

We’ll keep this one short and sweet, since the fans and the entire Los Angeles Lakers organization seem to have a very easy time dwelling on who Kobe Bryant once was compared to who he is now. Still, the most effective way for tolerating every airball, every blown defensive assignment and every ill-advised three from Kobe is reminiscing on the player that he used to be.

Remember the Kobe Bryant who put up 81 points on the Toronto Raptors.

Remember the Kobe Bryant who brought five more championships to one of the league’s most prestigious franchises.

Remember the guy who threw that alley-oop to Shaquille O’Neal in the Western Conference Finals, the guy who sank game-winners and the guy who probably should’ve won more than one MVP Award in his career.

Looking back on Kobe’s list of accomplishments and accolades can only erase so much of the current pain; in fact, to a certain extent, reflecting on the glorious past makes these current struggles that much harder to take.

But when we look back on Kobe Bryant’s 20 years in the league — all with the Los Angeles Lakers — don’t let the image of a stubborn 37-year-old Kobe be the one that sticks. Remember him for the superstar and all-time great that he was, not the guy who’s got a stranglehold on the Lakers now.

Next: No. 4

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