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Kobe Bryant Is Done … Now What For The Los Angeles Lakers?

By Gerald Bourguet

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks towards the tunnel after scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks towards the tunnel after scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Kobe Bryant
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after scoring 60 points against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Bryant played his last game as a Laker and retired from basketball. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

A New Era

Growing up, Batman was always my favorite superhero. Why? Because while his own story, costume, background and gadgets were all intriguing, he had the best cast of villains to challenge him. Everyone loves a good villain, even if we’re all still rooting for the hero in the end.

Wednesday night, the Lakers said their tearful goodbyes to their own hero, a five-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, one-time regular season MVP, 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection and 12-time All-Defensive Team selection. For the rest of the world, Kobe had long been a villain, perhaps the greatest one the NBA had ever seen.

But just as Kobe Bryant gave the game everything he had for 20 years, he poured his heart, mind and body into his 42 final minutes, scoring 60 points on 50 shots at age 37. As he scored the Lakers’ final 17 points, including a go-ahead jumper after his team had trailed by 10 with just a few minutes to play, the villain won over even his harshest of critics.

After one of the game’s most controversial players won over the entire NBA audience for one last hurrah, it’s tempting to wonder what’s in store for him next. In his own words: “I think I’m incapable of taking a break. I like working, I like being active, I like doing things. My mind has to be focused on something. Has to be. So no, I’ll be at work the next day.”

Between that and his comments about his final game being a celebration, Kobe Bryant is probably more okay with his decision to retire than anyone. That makes sense for a rabid fan base that has vehemently defended its greatest hero for years now, but it will become alarming if the Lakers franchise responds to his absence with the same reckless abandon.

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At this point, the Lakers have a promising foundation to build on, but it’s not the most stable structure either.

The Lakers are pushing for Byron Scott to stay, Russell divided an entire locker room with his immaturity, Randle and Clarkson still have notable flaws, the Lakers could lose their first round pick if they drop to No. 4, and there’s always the threat of blowing cap space on ill-advised, win-now contracts to distract fans from Kobe’s absence and the youngsters’ growing pains.

But on the other hand, the future could look much brighter if the Lakers fire Scott, hire one of the many reputable names floating around, hand over the reins to Russell, Randle and Clarkson, win the No. 1 or No. 2 pick to draft Simmons or Ingram, make a couple of smart free agency signings with quality locker room personalities, and fully commit to a more patient rebuild.

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That approach will go against everything the Lakers have stood for for decades, even over the last few years with the Black Mamba’s game and body on the decline, when the franchise did all it could to keep the team competitive at the expense of its long-term future.

But now that Kobe Bryant officially retired, there’s never been a better time to fully commit to an honest to God rebuild and embrace an unfamiliar future. It’s time for the post-Mamba era to truly begin.

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