For any NBA player, winning an NBA title and having an NBA ring is the ultimate dream. And as far as Kobe Bryant is concerned, he has one hand filled with them since he won five championships with the Lakers.
The Black Mamba is 5-2 with the Lakers in the NBA Finals and as he winds down the career, he looks back at the two missed opportunities the franchise had to endure.
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The first one came in 2004 when a powerhouse Lakers squad that had Bryant, Shaquille O’ Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton seemed destined to snag another NBA title from Day 1. However, an up and rising Pistons squad spoiled the party, denying the Lakers of the title with a 4-1 series win.
That was a hard pill to swallow for Bryant and the Lakers, but nevertheless brought a valuable lesson to the five-time NBA champion.
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“Talent doesn't get it done. You have to be able to execute. When you have talent and you execute, that's when you win," Bryant said via ESPN.
Then there was that 2008 surprise loss that Los Angeles suffered at the expense of Boston. It was something no one saw coming, but somehow then-head coach Doc Rivers pulled it off with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.
The 2008 run was of course entirely different. Kobe felt that the team was humming and the reason why they lost to the Celtics was that they were hungrier.
"We lost them both different," he said. "That 2008 [Lakers] team, we ran an offense extremely well and knew how to execute extremely well. Boston just took it from us. They were just tougher, nastier, meaner."
With five NBA rings, such is already an over achievement if you talk about an ordinary NBA player. But Kobe is no common player and he has proven that throughout the 20 years of his existence in the league.
“When I came into the league, I knew I didn’t want to have any regrets," Bryant told The Los Angeles Daily News. "I pushed as hard as I can. I’ve done that. So I’m completely fine."
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