Bryant's Turnaround a Spectacular Sight
By GWEN KNAPP,
AOL
Posted: 2008-05-01 19:26:34
Sports Commentary
The Kobe Bryant revolution rages on, thrilling even the truest non-believers. He is a complete player now, a genuine heir to Erving, Johnson, Bird and Jordan, and a proper peer to LeBron James.
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Star Discovers
Winning Ways
Kobe Bryant's jaw-dropping talent always has been evident, but he now has observers gushing about his unselfishness and willingness to be a leader.
The transformation shouldn't seem all that radical. What we've seen this year was once considered his destiny -- staggering talent, brains and leadership meshing beautifully.
At the start of this season, all of that potential was drowning in self-importance. The pouting, the whining, the trade demand, the obscene mockery of the Lakers on an amateur video, the retracted trade demand, more pouting and whining.
There was no way for this saga to end happily. Bryant was going to either leave the Lakers or destroy them. He would retire in another city, probably with a legacy as a selfish loner.
Then he did the impossible. He changed his attitude without changing his address. He righted himself without a career-threatening crisis. He grew up and shut up, just because it was a good idea.
He even inspired Charles Barkley, dean of the "Kobe is a brat" school of thought, to chant "MVP" in his honor. Seldom has a man taken such joy in being proved wrong.
It's been remarkable to watch, because this kind of transformation is so rare in anyone. Negligent spouses, slacker employees, NBA prodigies who refuse to pass out of a double-team. When they break bad habits, it's seldom a finesse play.
Credit the Lakers and Jerry Buss for making this all go down so smoothly. Most owners would have reacted emotionally to Bryant's complaints and dumped the *%&#* ingrate. Buss never made the showdown about him or what he had done for Bryant. He made it about the Lakers and what Bryant still could do for them.
The trade for Pau Gasol did wonders, giving Bryant the kind of help he had requested during his summer of discontent. But attempts to cast Gasol as a giant ransom payment, which brought Bryant's smile out of captivity, ignore the fact that the Lakers' star had already begun maturing before the deal went through.
Bryant had lightened up on the "me against the world" fury that had fueled multiple 50-point games yet zero advancement in the playoffs over the previous three seasons. He also became more generous toward Andrew Bynum, the young 7-footer whom he wanted on the trading block a year earlier.
China's former NBA player Wang Zhizhi (R) looks for an opening as Angola's Joaquim Gomes guards during their Stankovic Cup basketball game in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming (R) looks for a pass as Angola's Joaquim Gomes (L) guards during their Stankovic Cup basketball game in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA players Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets (R) talks with Yi Jianlian of the New Jersey Nets during their Stankovic Cup baskeball game against Angola in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming checks the scoreboard during their Stankovic Cup basketball tournament game against angola in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA player Yi Jianlian (L) tries to block a shot from Angola's Victor Muzadi (R) during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming (C-#13) blocks a shot from Angola's Joaquim Gomes (L) during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola defeated China 72-71. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
China's NBA player Yi Jianlian (2nd R) vies for position with Angola's Victor Muzadi (R-#11) while awaiting the pass from China's Zhu Fangyu (L) during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
China's NBA player Yi Jianlian wipes his face during their Stankovic Cup basketball tournament game against Angola in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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China's NBA star Yao Ming (R) makes A move for the basket as Angola's Joaquim Gomes (2nd L) guards during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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Chinese NBA star Yao Ming slam dunks against Angola during the Stankovic Cup basketball tournament in Hangzhou on July 19, 2008 in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Angola were leading China 32-31 at half-time. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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Some of the transformation may have begun away from the Lakers. When Bryant played for USA Basketball in last summer's Olympic qualifying tournament, he was a model teammate, setting the rhythm for everyone else. And the beat wasn't "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe."
He dropped a reported 20 pounds before reporting to the national-team camp in Las Vegas, and the weight loss, combined with shorter playing time, allowed him to play ferocious defense. Knowing that he had extraordinary talent all around him, Bryant adapted his game accordingly. He raved about the experience, effectively telling the Lakers and his detractors: I can be unselfish if I have proper help on the court.
This summer in Beijing, he has a chance to deliver a grander message. The Olympics should be the ideal stage for Bryant. At last, his childhood spent abroad won't set him apart as a geek. His serious personality won't automatically be interpreted as aloofness.
The Olympics favor gravitas, and the Beijing Games will require special diplomacy from prominent Western athletes. They'll need to be respectful of the hosts and yet aware of the controversies surrounding the host's government.
Pat Riley recently expressed frustration that the NBA hasn't done more to educate its international representatives in advance of the Games. But Bryant appears to be ahead of the curve. He did a public-service announcement about the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region -- a straightforward appeal for compassion and peace. He didn't allude to the Chinese government's ties to the Sudanese regime or level criticism of any kind. He just spoke up, and did so eloquently.
Of course, that piece of video isn't as renowned as the spoof of him leaping a moving Aston Martin. It's a playful stunt, thawing Bryant's icy brand of cool. This revolution wouldn't be complete without a sense of humor.
It could also use a Shaq-less championship and a gold medal. The Olympic final is scheduled for Aug. 24. The day before, Kobe Bryant, child of destiny, will turn 30.
Gwen Knapp is a sports columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle.
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