Kobe Bryant Divorce: Why the Split Could Impact Lakers' Season
The announcement of Kobe’s Bryant’s divorce after 10 years of marriage may cause some NBA fans to wonder how the news will impact the Los Angeles Lakers on the court this season.
Although the news of Bryant’s divorce is most likely an upset in the 33-year-old basketball star’s life, some wonder how that will translate to his game.
“Kobe Bryant's wife files for divorce, wonder how well he will play today," a fan questioned on Twitter.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
However, fans that have been watching Bryant are familiar with the five-time championship winning guard overcoming obstacles on the court. After meeting soon-to-be ex-wife Vanessa, Bryant wed in 2001 against the wishes of his parents.
Although news reports surfaced about none of his teammates or parents attending the ceremony, Bryant helped his team clinch championships during two seasons from 2000-2002. He led his team with assists and steals and made the NBA All-Star team in 2001.
Still, that championship season was not an easy one for Bryant. The Los Angeles Daily News reported that the young guard had punched teammate Samaki Walker on a bus.
Days later, he was suspended for punching former NBA star Reggie Miller in the face, which led to a scuffle between the two that involved teammates and referees.
Through the years, the NBA star shooting guard overcame tougher personal issues while leading his team. In 2003, a 19-year-old Colorado lodge & spa employee charged Kobe with sexual assault.
Although he denied the assault, Bryant admitted to committing adultery publicly, with his wife by his side. Still, he was forced to lead his team that year in an NBA finals game against the Detroit Pistons.
Although an all-star Lakers’ starting lineup of Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton was able to bring Bryant to the finals, his head did not seem to be in the game. He shot 35.1 percent from the field and the Lakers lost the championship during the 2003-2004 season.
The end of that season ushered in a change within the Lakers organization, and championship winning coach Phil Jackson and center Shaquille O’Neal parted ways with the franchise.
During the 2004-2005 season, the Lakers’ organization seemed to crumble, with the resignation of Jackson’s replacement, coach Rudy Tomjanovich and the team missing the playoffs for the first time in ten years.
Bryant’s emotions once again appeared on court, with reports that he accused his wife of flirting with teammate Karl Malone. He also engaged in a public feud with NBA guard Ray Allen, about comments that he made regarding Bryant’s behavior that season.
“To me it seems like he is isolated out there. As much as it's five-on-five, I don't see much camaraderie going on out there with his teammates,” Allen said in a 2004 ESPN report. “As much as it's five-on-five, I don't see much camaraderie going on out there with his teammates.He's fighting all these battles that he doesn't need to fight, meanwhile his team is losing the war."
In 2005, Bryant seemed to be making changes in his life and surprised his wife with a $50,000 re-commitment ceremony. Phil Jackson returned to the Lakers, and the team made their way back into the NBA playoffs.
Although Bryant did not make it into the 2005-2006 finals, he was able to break records for scoring with his best career numbers. The next year, Kobe’s foul-playing behavior on the basketball court resulted in suspensions.
The Lakers were not able to make it into the NBA Finals until the 2007-2008 season, his first time accomplishing the feat without O’Neal on his team. However, Bryant and his team could not pull out a win against the championship winning Boston Celtics that year.
The following year Kobe and the Lakers were able to take the championship in a faceoff against the Celtics. Although Bryant seemed to be more unified with his team, reports surfaced about unrest within the Lakers organization during the 2010-2011 season.
The team seemed to unravel during the playoffs, when Lakers players were ejected for their on court display. Bryant was also fined for calling a referee a derogatory homosexual slur.
Although the period of unrest within Bryant’s marriage seems to have coincided with his behavior on court, coach Phil Jackson has also seemed to impact the aging star. This season, Jackson will not coach the Lakers and he will not have a wife cheering in the stands.
Although only time can tell the result of these two missing factors on Bryant’s game, it is hard to ignore that they have influenced him in the previous performances throughout his career.
