Why Everyone Loves Kobe Bryant
Having grown up in Los Angeles and being an avid sports fan, I have been a Lakers fan for most of my life. And, of course, I am a Kobe Bryant fan. I watched his entire career, from struggling rookie to the best player in the league and then as his playing career came to an end.
He was easily the most beloved athlete in the history of Los Angeles. Kobe’s tragic death will be felt for all time in this city that loved him so dearly.
A few years ago I used to write for Yahoo Sports covering the Los Angeles Lakers. This is the article I wrote that was originally titled “5 Reasons Everyone Hates Kobe Bryant” and it perfectly encapsulated my appreciation for him as a Laker and as the champion that he will always be.
5 Reasons Everyone Hates Kobe Bryant
These days a pretty good barometer for an athlete’s superiority is how many fellow players, media members and opposing teams’ fans hate him.
We find athletes like Kobe Bryant, one of the best players in basketball history, at the receiving end of vitriol from anyone and everyone who has a column, a blog or a Twitter account.
It’s an elite club that includes the likes of Alex Rodriguez, the best player in baseball over the last 20 years, a multiple MVP winner and a guy who dated Madonna, Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz; Lance Armstrong, the best cyclist in recent memory, a cancer survivor and the guy responsible for popularizing a boring “sport”; and Tiger Woods, one of the two best golfers ever who was able to achieve that despite the many “distractions” offered an athlete of his status.
Everyone makes mistakes, but when a superstar does, it becomes a lightning rod for constant criticism. The better a player is, the more polarizing he becomes on a societal level.
When Lebron James left Cleveland to play for Miami, it seemed like the entire world turned against him. For leaving Cleveland. Cleveland, Ohio! I defy anyone who has ever criticized Lebron’s decision to join the Heat to live in Cleveland for a week and tell me again how what he did is a travesty.
Kobe is certainly no stranger to criticism. It’s part of the job. And he better buckle up, because I’ve got five reasons why people hate him:
He’s a ball hog!
Just because he’s the best scoring option on his team doesn’t mean he should actually take as many shots as the best scoring options on other teams. By all means, Kobe, kick that ball out to Metta World Peace for yet another ill-fated three-point attempt. And please pay no attention to the fact that Kobe averages more assists per game than almost every other shooting guard in the league over the last decade.
He’s brazenly over-confident!
It’s all very modern to try to build up everyone’s self-confidence by lessening the confidence of others. This is what kids are taught these days. My nephews play in a basketball league that doesn’t keep score in games. “Everyone is a winner!” Just who the hell does Kobe think he is acting like he’s one of the best players in the league with a handful of championship rings?!
He’s got a prickly personality!
Sure, Kobe is spectacular on the court, but as a fan, my biggest concern is how he gets along with the fellas. Is he a comfort to his teammates in their personal times of need? Does he even help any of them move into a new house? This is obviously a huge problem, because it has in no way affected the team’s ability to win championships.
He acts like nothing’s more important than winning!
After winning his first NBA title so many years ago, Kobe clearly developed a thirst for them. Like a tweeker to his meth pipe, Kobe has become insatiable. His workout ethic is unlike any other in the league and he’s even gone to the extreme of flying to Germany for experimental platelet-rich plasma treatments to maintain his peak performance. And all for what? Five championships in the last 15 years? That hardly seems fair to other teams and players who don’t even have one ever.
He scared off Shaq and Dwight!
The rumors are that one of the reasons Dwight Howard chose to leave the Lakers was because of Kobe. This makes sense, because why would Dwight want to play with someone whose sole purpose is winning a title? That’s a lot of pressure.
And the Shaquille O’Neal story is well-covered. Kobe made a tactical move to get the team to choose between him and Shaq. The team chose Kobe, who definitely came across as the “bad guy.” Shaq went to Miami and then Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston. Clearly Shaq gets along great with everyone and Kobe was behind those team changes as well.
Obviously, there are a lot of questions when it comes to Kobe Bryant. And based on his track record, he’ll probably answer them all with another annoying championship.
I mean, where are the Lakers even supposed to hang all those banners?
