Bryant’s Business: Love Him Or Hate Him
All-Star Vet Determined To Prove He Runs The Show
2009-06-09
By Melody K. Hoffman

If you thought you heard Beyoncé’s hit song “Ego” playing in the background while watching the NBA playoffs this year, you probably did.

In a league that markets its egos that can “back it up” with superstar talent, perhaps Kobe Bryant’s persona shines the brightest.

His teammates and opponents, fans and haters have all been contending with Bryant’s plight to prove that he can win a championship without the Diesel aka Shaquille O’Neal. Ever since Shaq and Kobe parted ways after guiding the Lakers to three-straight NBA titles (2000-2002), and Shaq was able to win another ring with his new team in Miami, Kobe appeared to have been lead and not the leader.

As much as Bryant dismisses it, tonight in Game 3, just two wins away from that elusive 4th title, Bryant will try and eliminate all doubt that he’s the gunslinger of the West, the backbone of the storied franchise. 

You don’t have to be a sports junkie to recognize Bryant’s obsession for another title.  It’s just that he’s never been so close before.  Last year, Bryant, who won a gold medal as a member of the 2008 Summer Olympics U.S. Men's Basketball Team, won his first ever league MVP title and lead the Lakers to the Finals against the Boston Celtics.

No go.

He was forced to listen to rumblings that he needed Shaq, or that he needed another star, or that his 50, 65, and 81-point games were not enough. Bryant needs…gasp…help.

Though many criticize Bryant for his selfishness on the court and isolation toward teammates, it’s those very critics that can’t help but watch his acrobatics on the court. It is those very fans and opponents that tune in night after night to see his domination and clutch performances. Truly owning the stage.

One opponent that is forced to mature and man up in this series because of Bryant’s dealings is the cornerstone of the Magic’s franchise, Dwight Howard.  Bryant, who entered the NBA 13 seasons ago from high school, is schooling Howard, who also bypassed college to become the No. 1 draft selection in 2004.

Though strong and tough in the middle, the 6-foot-11, 265-pounder Howard is also known to be lighthearted and the catalyst of his teammates laughter.  He earned his Superman nickname after last year’s slam-dunk contest when he won wearing an S cape.

However, Bryant’s killer instinct and assassin attitude is mocking Howard’s resume. In Game 1 Howard scored just 12 points in the Magic’s 75-100 loss. Bryant walked on the court with a stone grin and game face. He ended up scoring 40 points in the route.

In Game 2, Howard finished with a respectable double-double in the frustrating 101-96 overtime loss (17 points, 16 rebounds), but the three-time All-Star is still trying to find his way.

“All of us have a certain amount of ego in this game, and I'm sure no one would doubt that,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson told a group of reporters.  “But [Kobe] understands what the mood and the temperament of the game is a lot of time, reads the game, knows when he has to carry the thrust of our team a lot and then knows a lot of times if he's got to pull back or sit back and let some other people do what they can do best on the team.”

Perhaps the perception of Bryant’s ego will take a turn for the best when he wins his next championship. Perhaps it won’t.  One fact that cannot be disputed, with such a fierce competitiveness and hunger to be the best, Bryant is keenly focused on the business of winning championships.

Melody K. Hoffman is Senior Writer for JET Magazine