Currently, the NBA lockout has no face. Fans are left to wonder what the temperature in the super secret room is at the moment. Every meeting is behind closed doors, and all lockout rumblings are negative.
The current NBA landscape is a tumultuous one. As the lockout inches closer to official dates and envelopes them, the league and its fans will need Kobe Bryant to be the face of the league, a reminder of what is being lost, and what is to come.
ESPN reports Bryant has been offered $6.7 million to play in Italy for Virtus Bologna. The deal couldn't be any sweeter, allowing the Mamba to end the deal the moment the lockout is lifted and the NBA is back to work.
So why the hell would I ask Bryant to stay when there is nothing going on but stagnation? The fact is, Bryant matters a lot more than you think in this situation.
For the Players
The man that wanted to be the best and most important player in the league accomplished that feat. The joy of such heights has been evident in his resurgence as a marketable commodity. But there is also the necessary demands a sport has on its best most public figure.
Yahoo! Sports quoted a report recently that illustrated just one of the ways Bryant is important behind the scenes.
They've been deeply involved in the meetings we've had. I know Kobe is intimately involved in interfacing with colleagues and sharing in a pool of revenue to help the others get through this. Kobe has volunteered to do that in the event others need, he and others are prepared to loan money if necessary.
Bryant is a strong figure for the players to rally behind. A union needs a leader. It's that simple. Sure, the players have Derek Fisher taking the official role, b...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
