Unfulfilled Expectations
After securing his first league MVP, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers were poised to capture their first NBA championship in nearly five years. With the mid-season addition of All-Star forward Pau Gasol, the Lakers were early favorites against the Boston Celtics during the 2008 NBA Finals. However, with the defensive presence of Kevin Garnett and the stellar play and “acting” of Paul Pierce, the Celtics were able to secure a championship in six games, thus making Bryant’s MVP season rather hollow.
However, after an off-season of further continuity, the 2008-2009 Los Angeles appeared prime to contented for a NBA title. Lead by Bryant, this season would be pivotal for a variety of reasons as the latest Kobe signature would change the landscape of basketball sneakers.
