Kobe Bryant is universally regarded as one of the 10 greatest players in NBA history, and some have him in their list of the top five players in basketball history. With five world championships, two scoring titles, two Olympic gold medals and seemingly countless other records and memories, it’s no wonder he’s considered an icon.
But one interesting “what if” has to do with the last few years of his career.
In 2011, the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers had just been swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks. Their roster was getting stale, and they looked to perform a proverbial defibrillation by trading for perennial All-Star point guard Chris Paul just prior to the following season.
But the trade was nixed at the last minute by then-commissioner David Stern, who was acting as the owner of the New Orleans Hornets, Paul’s team at the time.
Paul recently mused about what could’ve been had the trade gone through.
Via Sportskeeda:
“It’s crazy how all that stuff went down. … We thought the trade was happening, it didn’t. Like I said, me and Kob, we got on the phone. Man, Kob is just special, and it’s different. … Me and Kob were just wired the same. You know what I mean? His talent was just outrageous, but when we played against each other, we was about to fight, just about every time.
“We was both on that same energy. … Any All-Star game that me and him played together, I don’t think we ever lost. … I hate that opportunity didn’t get to happen, especially at that point in my career. … I think it could’ve been fun.”
Paul and Bryant, along with star center Dwight Howard, whom the Lakers acquired in the summer of 2012, would’ve been an interesting trio. Perhaps they would’ve teamed together to bring the Purple and Gold at least one more Larry O’Brien trophy.
Perhaps in some parallel universe, Bryant is still alive and laughing at the delightful memory of winning at least one ring with Paul.
Instead, Paul is ringless, and at age 38, his best chances of calling himself a world champion may be behind him.
