Kobe Bryant: Remembering a Legend

Sunday, January 26, a day that was supposed to be like any other Sunday, minus the week off from football as the NFL prepares for Super Bowl Sunday just one week away. With no Sunday football to wake up to for the first time in 20 weeks, there was simply no alarm clock needed as I managed to get some rest and sleep in. Unbeknownst to the shocking news that I would wake up to just moments later, the text messages began pouring in from family members and friends alike, followed by an alert from my ESPN app: "12:04pm - NBA legend Kobe Bryant among five people killed in helicopter crash in Calabasas, California."

At first glance upon opening the texts and reading the alert while still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I thought, "that can't be right." Less than 24 hours earlier while taking on the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James passed Kobe for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, which James honored Kobe in his hometown of Philadelphia with a pair of customized sneakers that included a handwritten message that read, "Mamba 4 Life". In the visiting team's locker room, LeBron would give a post-game interview and answered a number of Kobe-related questions after being asked what it meant to move up the list of the game's all-time scorers while passing an NBA great and Laker legend like Kobe Bryant. James would share a number of stories, including the first time he met Kobe while attending a basketball camp as a teenager where he was gifted a pair of sneakers from the Mamba himself. And despite them being a full shoe size smaller, LeBron wore them anyway. Kobe took to Twitter to congratulate LeBron on his achievement with a short message that read, "Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644." Little did we know it would be the last interaction between the two and the last time we'd hear from Kobe.

For me, a kid born in the year 1990 that grew up a Lakers fan and was fortunate enough to watch Kobe straight out of High School from the beginning of his career to the end, the man was not only an icon, but a global ambassador for the game of basketball. Serving as the transitional piece alongside his former teammate and good friend Shaquille O'Neal that helped bridge the gap following the Michael Jordan era, Kobe Bryant who entered the league at the tender age of 18, was the quintessential rock star from a basketball sense. Unlike Jordan who I only remember during his second stint with the Bulls and towards the twilight of his career, Kobe was the Jordan of my childhood and my hero. From having his own video game that I would play as a child for hours on end to his own sneakers and fashion line that I would beg my parents to buy me, Kobe Bryant was larger than life and is perhaps even more recognizable overseas than he is here in the States. Possessing a work ethic unlike any other, Kobe Bryant was the ultimate competitor, even greater than that of Jordan. And like Jordan who Kobe drew so many comparisons to and admits he molded his game around, Kobe was a player that brought the best out of everyone he faced on a basketball court. Whether you were a fan of his or you hated his guts for the sole reason that he likely ripped the heart out of your team on multiple occasions on the scoreboard and in the box score, chances are he had you glued to the TV in one way or another.

Having been a sports fan for my entire life, I can truly say that I've never followed someone who was so obsessed with something the way Kobe was with basketball. But as much as Kobe needed basketball, basketball needed Kobe just as much if not more. Having inspired an entire generation of athletes, not one player in the NBA today would admit that Kobe didn't inspire them or their game in some way, shape, or form. Whether it was a move they saw Kobe make in a game, or the way he handled himself on the court with a focus and a hunger for success unlike any before him which coined such phrases as "Mamba Mentality" and "Kobe System," chances are Kobe made an impact on each and every basketball fan and player out there over the last two decades. Kobe is a household name that is as synonymous with the game of basketball as well as any we've ever seen, so much so that his jersey numbers: 8 and 24, both of which retired by the Lakers, line up with two of basketball's most basic rules in the 8 Second Violation and the 24 Second Shot-Clock Violation. This allowed for the many NBA teams that were in action on Sunday to pay tribute to Bryant just hours after the tragic news broke as teams began purposely committing these violations, simply as a salute and a thank you to one of their very own. Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban, whom Kobe never played for in his entire career, had his own way of honoring Bryant and released a statement Sunday evening praising Kobe's legacy and saying that the number 24 will never be worn again by a member of the Mavs.

Sadly, the 41-year old Kobe who was beloved by fans and meant so much to the Los Angeles community, was not alone on that helicopter that came crashing down and killed more passengers than initially reported. Among the eight others that were on board and killed in the accident was Bryant's 13-year old daughter, Gianna. A prodigy under her dad's tutelage, Gigi was expected to be the next big thing in women's basketball. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see when her time on the hardwood came calling, almost as an extension of Kobe who basketball fans, myself included, dearly miss seeing on a basketball court. Sadly, she was taken from us before her basketball legacy could even begin and before she was able to continue that of the family's. Among the game's all-time greatest players, Kobe in the public eye was even greater at being a father. I could sit here and talk about the many accolades and accomplishments that Kobe achieved on the court, but that would likely take all night and considering I have to be up for work in a few hours, that's probably not a great idea.

This photo was taken exactly three years ago to the day, the last Laker game I had attended prior to this season and of course donning the jersey of my all-time favorite basketball player and one of my favorite athletes ever. When you follow ones career and become as big a fan of someone like I was with Kobe, you begin to feel as if you knew that person on a personal level. And though that's not the case as I was merely a fan, I still feel like I've lost a close friend.

Rest in Peace.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Lakers Back on Track in LeBron's Return

In his first season out west with the Los Angeles Lakers, 34-year old LeBron James has proven that he's still among the best players in the NBA if not still the top dog in a league that favors fresh legs and young talent. After helping turn around what's been a struggling Lakers franchise for the last five years and morphing them into a playoff caliber team in his first campaign with the Lake Show, a groin injury suffered in the Christmas showdown against the defending champion Golden State Warriors would sideline James for five weeks. Missing a whopping 17 games, the Lakers would log a record of 6-11 in James' absence while watching their stock plummet from being the fourth place team in the Western Conference to the ninth. But after returning from the longest hiatus of James' career due to injury, all things were suddenly right in the world again as L.A. who entered the night with a record of 26-25 on the season, picked up right where they left off before their team captain was bitten by the injury bug.

In his return, James who appeared rather hesitant at times and perfectly fine at others, shook off the cobwebs to score a game-high 24-points and amass 14-rebounds and 9-assists, falling one assist shy of a triple-double. Showing signs of rust early on, the deeper the game went on, the better LeBron looked in a game that he wasn't expected to play in and was initially ruled out of before arriving to the arena and expressing to both the coaching staff and medical staff how good he felt. Needing all the help his team could get as point-guard Lonzo Ball (ankle) and power-forward Kyle Kuzma (hip) have also recently missed time with injuries, Lakers head coach Luke Walton welcomed the thought of having James return to action and didn't hesitate to pencil him into the starting lineup just hours before tip-off. With ground to make up in the playoff race and facing a Clippers team that entered the day with a two-game cushion over the Lakers for sole possession of the No. 8 seed, Walton's team could ill-afford losing to the team they share a building with and are currently chasing.

What appeared to be an easy win for the Lakers who entered the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead, quickly shifted into a back and forth melee that saw the Clippers storm back to score seven unanswered-points in the final 1:49 of regulation to force the game into overtime. It would be in the extra period where LeBron took control of the game like the floor general he's been known to be, as all 11-points in OT were either scored by James or were scored off his play-making ability. LeBron who played a less than ideal 40-minutes in his first game back, would receive some help from Lance Stephenson who poured in 20-points off the bench, including five 3-pointers as the Lakers managed to escape with the 123-120 victory. A crucial five-game road trip is what lies ahead for the Lakers including their first test in the Bay Area on Saturday night against the Warriors who will be showing off their newest toy in DeMarcus Cousins who also recently returned from injury after missing the first three months of the season. With stops in Indiana, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta to follow, getting LeBron back couldn't have come at a better time, but the pressure will only increase for LeBron and company to rise to the occasion and make up for lost time as they look to reestablish their position in the playoff hunt with the All-Star break on the horizon and just 30 regular season games remaining.

As the February 7 NBA trade deadline approaches, we'll see whatever help if any the brain trust of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka decide to acquire for LeBron and coach Walton. One name that has already hit the airwaves and has gained traction among Laker fans and officials alike, is Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis who recently asked to be traded. Though he'll definitely require a hefty return if Lakers brass decide to pull the trigger for his services.

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

LABron: The Unfriendly Welcome

It's official, LeBron James is a Los Angeles Laker. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the one they call, "King James" would don the purple and gold. But that's not to say I'm not excited. Hell, this is the most excited I've ever been for a free-agent signing in all the years I've been a Laker fan. If only all of Laker Nation felt the same way. In the first week of the news breaking that LeBron had agreed to a four-year, $153.3 Million dollar deal to bring his talents to Hollywood, choosing L.A. over several teams with much more fortified rosters than that of L.A.'s, the most scrutinized player in NBA (and quite possibly sports) history, has already received a whirlwind of feedback in and around Los Angeles and it's not all positive.

Shortly after breaking Twitter by announcing his decision, local artists and fans welcomed LeBron with numerous billboards and a detailed mural that showcased LeBron in a Laker uniform that read, "King of L.A." Unfortunately, the mural would be vandalized just two days later as someone defaced the piece of artwork with, "We don't want you", as well as "3-6", referring to LeBron's record in the NBA Finals. Worth noting and for those keeping score at home, is those three NBA titles LeBron has been apart of, despite the sub-par record overall, are three more titles than the Lakers have won during that time span. Then again I doubt that's something the coward who had the gull to damage such a fine illustration would know. In fact, the person who vandalized the mural probably couldn't name more than two players on the roster and probably still hopes to wake up one day to find Kobe Bryant full-body cast and all, magically appear on the roster. But I'm not here to tell you that the logic of Laker fans isn't the greatest, because we know that already. That much is evident every time the Lakers add a banner to the crowded rafters of Staples Center as the fans celebrate by tipping cars, looting businesses and setting the city ablaze.

Sadly, the misinformed vandal isn't the only one who feels this way as I've seen my fair share of disgruntled Laker fans on Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks who are none too pleased that their favorite team just landed the best player on the planet. Most of whom have a hatred for LeBron which stems from their loyalty to Kobe who just so happens to be not only my favorite Laker of all-time, but also my favorite NBA player of all-time. But I'll be the first to tell you that ship has sailed and that Kobe, as great as he was, is just another retired player who's waiting to hear his name enshrined into the Hall of Fame. However, I also use common sense and know that when the greatest player of his generation joins a struggling organization that is experiencing its worst playoff drought in franchise history in the prime of his career, I welcome that move with open arms. Not to mention anybody that's watched a lick of Lakers basketball over the past five years, knows just how much of a dumpster fire this team has become, both on and off the court.

As if their combined record of 126-284 over the last five seasons hasn't been a cause for concern as of late, their recent inability to land marquee players on the free-agent market should do the trick. With that said, landing the 33-year old James is a huge win for the organization and its fans. Before the James signing, the Lakers whiffed on such free-agents as LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant and Paul George, and also witnessed players like Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Demar DeRozan, all of whom are from the L.A. area, re-sign with their current clubs. That's not to say the Lakers would've been the favorite to land either name, but seeing players scoff at the idea of playing ball in southern California is not something Laker fans have grown accustomed to seeing over the years. Then again, times have changed and the NBA is now a league where guys would rather play alongside their best friends to form "super teams" opposed to wanting to be looked upon as the guy who brought his team a title. Both of which are narratives LeBron is quite familiar with considering he helped birth the "super team" trend with his decision to head to Miami to team up with besties Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in the summer of 2010 before returning to Cleveland in 2014 and delivering the city its first championship in 52-years just two seasons later.

Just three seasons removed from their worst record in franchise history (17-65), the Lakers should be in store for the biggest record turnaround in the NBA this coming season and should be exciting to watch as LeBron will try and help speed up the development of L.A.'s young cast of players. As it stands, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart are some of the young players that will join James as head coach Luke Walton's Laker team hopes to build upon their 35-47 record from a year ago, an increase of 9-wins from the previous season and 18-wins from 2015-16. Along with James, the brain trust of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka stayed busy on the free-agency front by bringing in Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee as well as re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all on one-year deals. All of which were moves Johnson and Pelinka made after consulting with James, which means he was on board with bringing in a former nemesis of his in Stephenson. It also gives you the impression that both sides are in this for the long-haul and that this coming season will likely be a rebuilding process in the ever-increasing powerhouse that is the NBA's Western Conference. Something that we aren't used to seeing from a team led by LeBron James, further proving that his latest decision wasn't just about himself and his basketball legacy, but also for his family. And for this reason I can admit to finally rooting for King James and why other Laker fans should give the guy a chance like I've decided to. Besides, if the fans in Cleveland can no longer hate him for departing the city he grew up just a stones throw away from for a second time now after delivering them a long-awaited title, Laker fans have no reason to gripe at his arrival.

Before the other signings were made official, the seismic move of adding LeBron alone automatically gave the Lakers the third-best odds to win the 2019 NBA Finals according to odds makers, which is quite impressive considering they've witnessed the playoffs from the comfort of their own home in each of the past five seasons. Unfortunately, those chances took a hit shortly after as the reigning champion Golden State Warriors reloaded their already stellar roster with the signing of All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. As for LeBron's legacy, the man could retire today and would still finish his career with nine NBA Finals appearances (including eight straight), that's more than most NBA franchises have under their belt. If he never played another game he would be regarded as one of the game's all-time greats, whether you have him in front of or just behind Michael Jordan for that top spot. But if anything can help catapult James over MJ in the discussion of who's the greatest to ever step foot on the hardwood, it would be helping revive the dying carcass that has been the Lakers franchise into winners again. Something he'll have at least four years to do and something the fans and naysayers alike will be keeping close tabs on.

Oh yeah and by the way, the mural was fixed just hours later.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Walton lands Dream Job with Lakers

With a vacancy in their head coaching position, the Los Angeles Lakers have found their man. After finishing the past three regular seasons with the worst record in franchise history and diminishing win totals of 27, 21 and 19, the Lakers are ready to start off on a clean slate. And they'll be doing so under newly hired head coach Luke Walton. Name sound familiar? That's because it wasn't long ago that Walton was on the court playing for the Lakers where he spent nine years as a fan favorite. And now both Laker fans and the front-office are hoping that will continue as he returns back to the Lakers bench, only this time with a suit and tie on instead of a jersey.

Hired to become the 26th head coach in franchise history, Walton, son of NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, joins a long list of names of former Laker players who later went on to coach the team. Impressive names with the likes of George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Jerry West, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis and most recently -- Byron Scott who was relieved of his duties after just two seasons. Thus making Walton the eighth former Lakers player turned coach. However, of the seven others before him, only three of those names have finished their tenure with a winning record. And only two if you're counting a full season's worth of work. With Walton being the eighth Lakers coach to have also donned the purple and gold as a player, it's safe to say the Lakers prefer to keep it in the family by hiring one of their own. And hopefully this one works out better than the last one did.

After capturing only 38 combined wins in two seasons under Scott, the Lakers are hoping to have much more success under Walton who was twice named coach of the month this season while filling in for Steve Kerr as the intern head coach of the Golden State Warriors, whom he led to a 39-4 record, including a blazing 24-0 start. Following Kerr's return back to the Warriors bench after recovering from back surgery, the Warriors went on to assemble the greatest regular season in NBA history, finishing with an all-time best record of 73-9, narrowing the 72-10 mark previously held by the team that Kerr coincidentally played for -- the '95-'96 Chicago Bulls. Because of the accomplishment, Kerr would be named Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, while many believed the award should've gone to Walton or at the very least share the award with co-Coach of the Year honors. Unfortunately for Walton, that wouldn't be the case. But at least his time in the driver seat helped skyrocket both his stock and interest in landing a head coaching job.

Two years removed from being a part-time assistant coach in the NBA's Developmental League, Walton, who becomes the youngest active head coach in the league at just 36 years of age, will now takeover the most winningest franchise in the NBA. Having grown up in Southern California and later playing for the team he lived just a stones throw away from, the hiring of Walton could be the perfect fit in L.A. Or it could be another Byron Scott-type disaster that we were more than excited for at first, and later ended up hating. At first glance, Walton doesn't seem like the type of hire you'd make when looking to help develop players which is exactly what the Lakers are in need of with their crop of young players led by Julius Randle and DeAngelo Russell. Then again, Walton could be the perfect man for the job, knocking it out of the park and proving us all wrong. The truth is, only time will tell. And whether or not the Lakers organization might not want to admit it, regardless of who it was they decided to hire, the next man for the job was going to need plenty of that to help get the Lakers back into winning form -- time. Entering year three of the Lakers current reconstruction, the front-office will have to show patience with Walton, something they showed very little of with Byron Scott calling the plays. And with Walton reportedly agreeing to a five-year deal, four of which guaranteed at an amount not yet made public, they appear to be understanding.

Smart move or not by Walton with many believing he jumped the gun and should've returned to Golden State for at least another year, he might not have had the opportunity to land his dream job again if he chose to wait it out another season. Sure leaving an organization that is currently atop the basketball world in both popularity and excitement, not to mention has the talent to become a dynasty, seems hard, but jobs like the one Walton just agreed to take don't come around too often. Though it was only a small sample size, we've seen how well Walton can coach a roster full of stars and talented players in their prime including the league's MVP, now lets see how well he can coach a bunch of youngsters still looking to make a name for themselves and whether or not he can help guide the Lakers franchise back to prominence as they look to end their dry spell of missing the playoffs for a franchise worst three consecutive seasons. And with a young team in hand already, the Lakers are expected to get even younger as they hope to strike gold in this month's NBA Draft Lottery and perhaps even in free-agency after striking out in each of the last three seasons.


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Lakers find their man in Byron Scott

After finishing dead last in the Pacific division out west and posting their worst record in franchise history at 27-55 under coach Mike D'Antoni last season, the team has announced their newest hire. With D'Antoni resigning back on April 30, the Lakers have finally put an end to their head coaching vacancy nearly three months to the day with the announcement of a four-year, $17 Million contract agreement with Byron Scott. With both free agency and the NBA Draft the top priorities during the early stages of the NBA offseason for the Lakers, GM Mitch Kupchak decided to hold off on hiring a head coach until the dust settled as the game's top free agents found homes. And with the Lakers failing to land either LeBron James or Carmello Anthony, both of whom they were willing to cater to and allow their voice to be heard in the hiring process for the next head coach, the team went on to offer the job to the man we knew they'd hire all along.

Though there were other interviewees which included George Karl, Kurt Rambis, Mike Dunleavy, Alvin Gentry and Lionel Hollins, the job was pretty much Scott's to lose from the get go. That became even more apparent as the interview process went on as Byron Scott returned for a second and third interview as most of the other candidates began signing elsewhere. With defense being a weak point for the team that failed to make the playoffs last season, the disciplinarian that Scott is known throughout the league to be should be a good fit for this Laker team. Scott also knows everything that needs to be known when under the bright lights of Hollywood. Not only does he know a thing or two about the franchise having played 10 seasons in L.A. and winning three titles with the "Showtime" Lakers, he's also quite familiar with the team he'll now be drawing up plays for as he served as an analyst on the Lakers' home station -- Time Warner Cable Sportsnet this past season. 

But what might have been the decided factor overall is his relationship with Lakers star Kobe Bryant. Having once upon a time called Byron Scott a teammate of his during his rookie season with the Lakers in 1996, Kobe has credited his new coach as being a mentor of his and someone he's always had a great deal of respect for and has expressed his interest in playing under Scott if the opportunity presented itself. With the organization expecting success only to be left disappointed each of the last few seasons with both Mike Brown and Mike D'Antoni at the helm, fans weren't hesitant to let their frustration be known. But being one of their own, Byron Scott will get somewhat of a free pass from Laker fans during this rebuilding stage and won't be chased out of the door right away if say the Lakers fail to make the playoffs again. But that's not to say coach Scott is expecting anything short of success from the purple and gold this year. 

Along with the new coaching staff, Laker fans will be seeing some new faces this season as well as some old ones. With Nick Young, Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson, Xavier Henry and Ryan Kelly all re-signing to join Kobe, Steve Nash and Robert Sacre as returning players this year, the Lakers also made a few new acquisitions. After watching Pau Gasol walk via free agency and sign with the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers claimed former All-Star Carlos Boozer off amnesty waivers while also signing power forward Ed Davis. In need of some depth at the point guard position, the Lakers landed Jeremy Lin from the Houston Rockets along with a first and second round pick in next year's Draft. And last but not least is PF Julius Randle who the Lakers took with the seventh overall pick out of Kentucky in last month's Draft and second round pick Jordan Clarkson (Missouri, point guard) who L.A. acquired on draft night from the Washington Wizards.

Byron Scott's coaching resume includes two trips to the NBA Finals while with the then New Jersey Nets and a Coach of the Year Award (2008) with the then New Orleans Hornets. After taking over a Cleveland Cavaliers team that would end up losing LeBron James via free agency to the Miami Heat just days after his arrival, Scott would be fired from the Cavs in 2013. Scott also joins a long list of former Laker players who later went on to coach the team which includes: Pat Riley, Jerry West, Jim Pollard, George Mikan, Kurt Rambis and Magic Johnson. 

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