9. Shouldn’t End Career Like Kobe Bryant
Kobe is arguably one of the top 10 greatest players of all-time.
Having said that, there is little doubt that the past two seasons of Bryant’s career will slightly tarnish his legacy when it’s all said and done.
It already feels like long ago when Kobe was considered a better player than LeBron James and was regarded by many as the best player of his generation.
Fast forward through two non-playoff losing seasons for Kobe and the Lakers, and people now hold Duncan on a higher pedestal than the Laker great.
During the last two years of his NBA career (assuming he retires in 2016 as planned), Bryant will have earned at least $23 million in each of those seasons. In fact, after a season which saw him appear in just 35 games while shooting 37.3 percent from the field, Kobe was the NBA’s highest-paid player at $23.5 million.
This is what happens when a franchise becomes too loyal to an individual based upon a storied legacy and past accomplishments.
Next: Allow Heat to Make Run at Free Agents in 2016
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