When the news that Kobe plans to retire at the end of the 2014 season came out, I was genuinely surprised. Like many, I thought that Kobe would attempt to break the all-time scoring record before he hung it up, but it seems that he wants to try and accomplish what so few in the NBA have done: go out both as the leader of your team and as a winner (Bill Russell is the only one I can think of that did this, Jordan did too until he ruined the perfect end to a career by playing with the Wizards). Think about it, Magic, Bird, Shaq, Isiah, Hakeem, Barkley, Miller, Stockton, Malone, Payton, Ewing, and many others, how did their careers end? Some said "F*ck it, I gave it my all, I am happy with what I've accomplished and wont resort to latching onto a contender to try and win a ring" - Stockton, Reggie, Barkley, Ewing. Some just realized that their run was over and that they would never be the main guy on a title team, so they too called it quits - Bird, Magic, Isiah, Hakeem, Shaq (who actually managed to try and latch on to every contender he could in a sad attempt to tie Kobe). While the rest shamelessly pursued a ring, regardless of their role on the team and in some cases succeeded (Gary Payton) or failed (Malone). If the Lakers manage to capture the title in Kobe's last season, it would be a truly unique accomplishment that very few NBA players can say they achieved. You can make the argument that Kobe wont be the best player on the team, but this is still very much 'his' team as far as anyone is concerned. You don't associate Dwight Howard with the Lakers, you do associate Kobe Bryant with them.
This brings me to my next point/idea/theory. Around NBA circles (if you trust Bill Simmons) it is well known that Kobe desperately wants to match Jordan's 6 rings and even go for a 7th that would immortalize him in the all-time top 10 list. Bryant understands that he will never again have a better chance to do that than over the next two seasons, his last two. He understands that he is playing with a a great play-making partner (Nash) in the back court for the first time in his long career, finally allowing him (if he so chooses) to take less responsibility on offence. He also understands that Howard is an absolute beast and would make any team be decent, but with this Lakers squad there is a chance that he could push them to legendary proportions. I think that over the next two years Kobe will do whatever it takes to scrap together both titles that he needs to pass Jordan, cement his legacy, and go out a winner. However, he will only accomplish two of those things. I see this Lakers team being a Juggernaut in the regular season (63+ wins) and will probably meet the Heat in the finals (not just this year, but also the next) and will manage to capture one title and lose one. That loss will come this year for several reasons: the Lakers lack depth and shooting, their stars will need some time to adjust to each other, their coaching staff is questionable, and Miami is slightly better than them at this point. So what will change in year two? The Lakers will add depth by proxy of some veterans wanting to win a title or play with Nash/Kobe/Gasol/Howard. They will be hungrier than Miami who will be (in theory) defending back-to-back titles, and most importantly: Kobe and Nash's careers will flash before their eyes causing them to elevate their games just enough to capture the title. If this happens, expect Nash to retire as well; knowing that unlike Gary Payton for example, he at least played a massive role in winning the title for his team.
By all accounts Kobe wants to pass Jordan and go out on top, but in order to do that is he willing to make the necessary sacrifices? Is he willing to let Nash take some big shots? Is he willing to embrace the team and stop trying to be the hero? I have no idea what the answers to those questions are, but I do know that it will be very fun to have them answered between now and Kobe's last game in the NBA.
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