Kobe Bryant Was Pissed At The Lakers When He Requested A Trade In 2007
Kobe Bryant is regarded as one of the best players to have ever played for the Los Angeles Lakers, having spent his entire 20-year career with the franchise and leading them to five NBA championships.
In 2007, Bryant demanded a trade from the Lakers due to his frustration with the lack of support he felt he had from the team.
NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith conducted a radio interview with Bryant to shed light on the situation and understand what was going on in Bryant's mind at the time.
During the interview, Bryant expressed his desire for the Lakers to "do the right thing" and criticized the team for not fulfilling promises made to him.
Bryant did not have a specific preference for which team he wanted to be traded to, stating that he would play anywhere at that point.
A disgruntled superstar can have a negative impact on any NBA franchise, especially when the face of the league publically demands a trade.
The Lakers were offered a blockbuster trade offer by the Chicago Bulls in response to Bryant's trade demand, but the Lakers ultimately rejected it.
In hindsight, it turned out to be a wise decision as Bryant eventually reconciled with the Lakers and went on to win two more championships with the team.
Bryant's trade demand in 2007 is just one example of the ups and downs of his career with the Lakers, but his legacy as one of the greatest Lakers players of all time remains unchallenged.