|
 Bryant hasn't played this season while recovering from surgery on
his torn Achilles tendon in April, but the Lakers didn't wait to
renew their commitment to the five-time NBA champion before he got
anywhere close to the free-agent market next summer.
Bryant inked the deal with owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch
Kupchak at his side in agent Rob Pelinka's office moments before the
Lakers left for an East Coast road trip. Bryant, Buss and Kupchak
all had repeatedly stated Bryant wouldn't leave his only NBA home.
The 35-year-old guard quickly tweeted a picture of his signature
with the hashtag: Laker4Life.
"This is a very happy day for Lakers fans and for the Lakers
organization," Kupchak said in a statement. "We've said all along
that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a
Laker, and this should ensure that that happens."
Bryant has spent more than half of his life playing for the Lakers,
and if he fulfills his new contract, he will break John Stockton's
record of 19 seasons with one NBA franchise.
But Kobe's legacy in L.A. already is secure: No less than Magic
Johnson and Jerry West have declared Bryant the franchise's greatest
player, given his fistful of championship rings and his consistent
brilliance while scoring more points than anybody else in a Lakers
uniform.
Although Bryant is taking a pay cut from his $30.45 million salary
this season, Kobe and the Lakers didn't exactly agree to a hometown
discount, either. ESPN reported the deal is worth $48.5 million,
keeping Kobe among the NBA's highest-paid players.
Some fans grumbled online that the contract will limit the Lakers'
flexibility in the free-agent market next summer, clouding their
starry-eyed dreams of signing Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. Other
fans approved the payout as a reward for an iconic player who still
ranked among the NBA's most dangerous scorers before his injury.
Bryant and 39-year-old point guard Steve Nash are the only players
signed to significant contracts for next season with the Lakers, who
have been anticipating a major roster restructuring in 2014 ever
since Dwight Howard fled town in July.
Even if the Lakers waived the oft-injured Nash under a special
provision limiting his salary cap hit, Bryant would eat up roughly a
third of their room under the projected cap before anybody else
joins him next season.
[to top of second column] |
Bryant returned to practice earlier this month,
and his return to the court seems imminent, although he isn't
rushing back from perhaps the most significant injury of his
career. Bryant said last week that he could adjust his game and
contribute something to the Lakers right now, but he wants to
make a full return when he finally steps on the court for his
18th NBA season.
"It's definitely something where you're kind of champing at the
bit a little bit, but we've come so far," Bryant said after
practice last week. "I want to make sure, we all do, when you
step out there you're ready to go the long haul, and (the
injury) isn't something that continues on."
Coach Mike D'Antoni has said Bryant can return whenever Kobe
says he's ready. The Lakers are surviving in his absence,
improving to 7-7 on Sunday night by beating Sacramento for their
third straight victory.
"I've been extremely proud of the way we've competed," Bryant
said.
The contract is another milestone in Bryant's remarkable career.
He was a 17-year-old high schooler when the Lakers acquired him
after the Charlotte Hornets chose him in the first round of the
1996 draft, and Lakers fans watched as he evolved into one of
the most dominant scorers in NBA history, dazzling fans with his
offensive inventiveness and drawing critics for his
ball-dominating style of play.
Bryant won three championships with Shaquille O'Neal from
2000-02 and added two more with Pau Gasol in 2009 and 2010,
winning the NBA finals MVP award after each of those titles. He
won his only NBA MVP award in 2008 and his scoring titles in
2006 and 2007, also earning 15 selections to the All-Star game —
with four MVP awards from the showcase — and two Olympic gold
medals with the U.S. national team.
Bryant hasn't given up hope of adding a sixth championship ring
to his trophy case, even while the Lakers struggle to keep up
with the NBA's best teams. With his immediate future secure,
Bryant can focus on getting back to full strength on his injured
leg.
"It's always a much greater appreciation for it," Bryant said of
his imminent return. "You understand the mortality that comes
with being on that doorstep. There's always a sense of enjoyment
when you come back."
[Associated
Press; GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
