Did Kobe Bryant almost leave the Lakers?

The situation: On Tuesday night, NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West confessed that Kobe almost left the Lakers in 2004 to join the Los Angeles Clippers. ‘ He was mad at everyone at the Lakers, the owner, everyone else. I said ‘Kobe, you can’t go play with the Clippers. You can’t play for that owner.

Did Kobe want to leave LA?

It was on this day, May 30th, 2007, that Kobe Bryant said he wanted to leave LA. He told ESPN Radio’s Stephen A Smith that he wanted to leave and there wasn’t anything the Lakers could do to change his mind. As history would unfold, Kobe wouldn’t force the Lakers to trade him.

Why did Kobe Bryant quit?

He continued to be among the top players in the league through the 2012–13 season, when he suffered a torn achilles tendon at age 34. Season-ending knee and shoulder injuries followed in the next two seasons. Citing physical decline, Bryant retired after the 2015–16 season.

Where did Kobe want to be traded to?

As originally reported by WXYT-AM (1270) in 2007, the Lakers agreed to trade Bryant to the Pistons for Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Amir Johnson and a first-round pick.

When did Kobe threaten to leave the Lakers?

O’Neal would introduce Bryant as “the greatest Laker ever” as the two reflected on their feud. In November 2015, Bryant announced his intention to retire following the 2015–16 NBA season.

Did the Lakers try to trade Kobe?

However, the draft-day trade that sent Bryant to the Lakers from the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 almost never happened, according to Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak. At the time, Divac was threatening to retire if the Lakers tried to trade him.

Did Kobe ever request a trade?

But Kobe was only averaging 19 points, and wasn’t completely satisfied with the way things were going. Reportedly, he requested a trade. The Pistons had made an offer to trade Grant Hill to the Lakers in exchange for Bryant, and the Los Angeles juggernaut had to consider it in the wake of Kobe’s request.

Did Kobe Bryant have a will?

Poor estate planning is fairly common for black people. In many cases, the lack of having a will and testament in place can create family battles, like over the estates of Prince and Aretha. Hopefully, Bryant was prepared and had a will in place to make sure he controlled his finances in death, as he did in life.

Who is the Lakers going to trade?

The Lakers will be getting two second-round picks in return, according to Shams Charania of the Athletic: The Washington Wizards have agreed to trade Russell Westbrook, 2024 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and No.

Was Kobe traded to the Lakers?

Kobe Bryant was a Los Angeles Lakers icon for a generation, but things could have gone very differently on his draft day in 1996. The Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant with the 13th overall pick but immediately traded him to the Lakers in exchange for center Vlade Divac.

Was Kobe ever a hornet?

Kobe Bryant is one of the best basketball players of all-time and was known for playing his entire career for the Los Angeles Lakers, but Bryant started his career being drafted to the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. The Hornets had the 13th pick in the 1996 draft and were aware that Bryant was on the board.