5 Harsh Realities about Kobe Bryant

#3 Loyal?

NBA Finals Game 6: Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics

From recent events like the Blake Griffin and Isaiah Thomas trades, it's clear there is no loyalty in the league. Because he played all of his 20 seasons with the Lakers, many consider Bryant to be loyal but is that really the case?

Sticking with a team that is winning, can't exactly be called loyal. In his time with the franchise, there were only a couple of times his loyalty was tested.

After Shaq's departure, the Lakers had about three seasons of mediocrity. Bryant went berserk during those seasons, unleashing his offensive arsenal on the league but even he had enough. Not being able to compete at a championship level, he asked for a trade request in summer of 2007 on a radio show.

From ESPN News Services:

The story lines that have engulfed the Los Angeles Lakers in the last week hit a crescendo Wednesday when Kobe Bryant said he would welcome a trade.

"I would like to be traded, yeah," Bryant said on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. "Tough as it is to come to that conclusion there's no other alternative, you know?"

Bryant, interviewed by Stephen A. Smith, was asked if there was anything the Lakers could do to change his mind?

"No," Bryant said. "I just want them to do the right thing."

The franchise didn't budge and he played on in the 2007-08 season. Eventually, the organization traded for Pau Gasol in February of 2008 and Bryant with a new All-Star to depend on took the team to three straight Finals appearances, of which they won two.

The second time the Lakers were not competent in his time with the team (2013-16), he signed a huge contract ensuring that his last payday was his biggest.