Lakers Payoff For Gamble On Bryant Tops 2009 Sports Stories

There will be many sports stories that will come to mind when sports historians start looking back on 2009, but perhaps none will be bigger than what happened in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant emerged from the shadows of Shaquille O'Neal to help deliver a title back to Southern California.

Bryant's rise to basketball immortality was capped in 2009 when he won the Finals MVP award and his Lakers became champions once again. It was an end result that was in question just a few short years ago.

Bryant, frustrated with the lack of talent around him in Los Angeles since Shaq left, threatened to leave the Lakers. there were even reports that Bryant had demanded a trade from the organization.

All of the trade talk ended, however, when the Lakers brought in Pau Gasol. The big man has helped stabilize the Lakers inside game, and the team has now been to the finals two years in a row. After losing to the Celtics in 2008, the Lakers beat the Magic in five games this year.

Bryant had already started establishing himself as one of the greatest of all-time in 2008. He won the league MVP award, and took over the gold medal game down the stretch to clinch the top prize for the US in the Olympics.

Still, Bryant knew that he needed that one last piece to the puzzle, a championship with him as the main weapon. He deferred more to teammates and became an on-court coach for Phil Jackson. It led to a dominant regular season and culminated in a title.

There may have been better stories in 2009, but when history looks back, it will be Bryant that will be most remembered for his accomplishments in the year.

December 31, 2009
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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