The late terrific Kobe Bryant has a basketball resume that hasactually been matched or surpassed by really coupleof, and he is one of just a choose handful of all-time fantastic professionalathletes to play his entire profession with one group.
But there were 2 times in which he almost left his precious Los Angeles Lakers. One came when he infamously required a trade in 2007, and the other came 3 years earlier.
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In 2004, the Lakers had simply lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. There were indications all season that their dynasty was on its last legs, and there was speculation that Bryant, head coach Phil Jackson and even Shaquille O’Neal might leave.
Bryant endedupbeing a complimentary representative that summerseason, and even right after O’Neal was traded, he wasn’t sure he desired to return to the Lakers.
According to previous Lakers executive Jerry West, Bryant thoughtabout finalizing with the Memphis Grizzlies, the group West was working for at the time. But West stated he talked the shooting guard out of it (h/t Lakers Daily).
Kobe on the Grizzlies?? It practically occurred 👀
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