Kobe Bryant always knew he could lead any team to success. However, the NBA landscape requires superstars to coexist with other top-tier players to succeed. The Lower Merion High School product eventually learned that. But the road to that realization wasn't easy.
Toning it down
Bryant was able to showcase his greatness in front of the entire world, racking up an all-time great NBA resume. But coming off a 1999 second-round exit to the San Antonio Spurs, he had to take a step back and adjust to his team's needs, holding off the fire burning from within.
Kobe admitted that making such an adjustment was challenging. But playing alongside Shaquille O'Neal, the most dominant force in the NBA at the time, Bryant was left with no choice.
After all, the two had been on the same team for three years at that point, and the furthest they got was the 1998 Western Conference Finals, where they were swept by the Utah Jazz.
"It's tough sometimes, because I know what I can do. There's certain moments where I can do those things and it actually benefits the team. Finding those moments now is the key," he said via the New York Times.
Related: "That guy put in the work" - Phil Jackson said his proudest Kobe Bryant moment was when he defended his teammate on Jimmy Kimmel
Know your role
Bryant's decision helped simmer things down in L.A. Roles were defined, and the friction from within was gone. The result was the Lakers steamrolling over their opposition.
"For Kobe, the process has been: how do you meet your own goals and desires while also escalating the play of your team and including yourself in that group?" Jackson said. "He has met that challenge. His development as a playmaker has been crucial."
With everything set, Kobe and the Lakers were now united in their goal—to deliver a title for the Lakers after 12 years of waiting. The road to the Finals was not easy, with the likes of the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers pushing the Purple and Gold to the limit.
Ironically, Bryant stood out in the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. That key moment was in Game 4 when Kobe had to step up with O'Neal fouling out in regulation. The 6-foot-6 guard took over in overtime , accounting for eight points to help L.A. win and take a 3-1 series lead.
"They don't win the championship if Kobe Bryant doesn't take over Game 4 in Indiana. Shaq fouls out, we go into overtime, and Kobe Bryant basically says, give me the basketball, get out my way, and takes over the game," Mark Jackson said about Bryant's performance.
After that, Kobe had other memorable moments of stepping up for the Lakers , especially in Shaq's absence, when he led the Lakers to two more NBA titles. It was all part of his evolution, eventually proving he deserved a place among the greats, something Kobe knew would happen from the day he entered the NBA.
Related: "There's no way I think they're so dominant they can't be beat" - Michael Jordan on Shaq-Kobe Lakers ahead of his Wizards debut
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