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As most basketball fans will remember, prior to Kobe Bryant’s retirement in 2016, the Los Angeles Lakers attempted to load up the team for one final NBA Championships run back in the 2012-13 season by acquiring an in-his-prime Dwight Howard and an on-his-way-out-of-the-league Steve Nash.
While there was initially tons of excitement about the blockbuster transactions (i.e. the now-infamous “this is going to be fun” Sports Illustrated cover), the moves ultimately did not pay off the way the Lakers had hoped, as the ultimately finished the season as the 7th seed in the Western Conference.
Perhaps more than anything, that season was defined by strife between Bryant and Howard as the pair famously did not get along, with Bryant question Howard’s commitment to winning.
However, despite those past grievances, the pair would ultimately reconcile their relationship to such an extent that Lakers President Jeanie Buss recently revealed that Bryant pushed the Lakers to signed the now 34-year-old Howard last offseason.
Jeanie Buss says Kobe Bryant told the Lakers they should sign Dwight Howard in the offseason.
When asked if she and the team had consulted with Bryant before the Howard signing: “I’m nodding my head yes. I mean, Kobe wanted us to win. He wanted to see the Lakers win, and Kobe came to a couple games and he was happy to see Dwight, and greeted him.” [via Daddy Issues with Joe Buck and Oliver Hudson, via SportsCenter Instagram]
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAlINuyBkHP/?igshid=1m82rzxqyaf11
It just goes to show that at the end of the day, Kobe Bryant’s main objective was winning — not his personal feelings or opinions, but what was best for the Los Angeles Lakers.
I’m not Kobe’s death will ever sting any less. Rest in Peace, Mamba.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com