Info Pulse Now

"As long as we give him 100 percent effort, I think he's pleased" - Kwame Brown pointed out how to get on Kobe Bryant's good side in 2006


"As long as we give him 100 percent effort, I think he's pleased" - Kwame Brown pointed out how to get on Kobe Bryant's good side in 2006

Kobe Bryant set high standards for himself, especially when he became the new face of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. Although the Purple and Gold went through a rebuilding phase, Philly native expected his teammates the time to give it their all or face his wrath.

Bryant hardly cared who his teammates were after that 2004 Lakers breakup. In the 2005-06 season, he led a bunch of inexperienced players like Sasha Vujacic, Smush Parker, Luke Walton, and Kwame Brown. This hardly mattered to Kobe for as long as he saw them giving their best.

"He's given us trust, but whatever we lack in experience, we just have to give that much more effort. As long as we give him 100 percent effort, I think he's pleased," Brown, the top pick of the 2001 Draft, admitted via NYT at the time.

The one-time MVP was talented but undoubtedly needed other Lakers players to step up in 2005-06. This was the same year when the L.A. team returned to the postseason, facing the Phoenix Suns in the first round.

The Lakers took on the challenge and ended up shaming critics. L.A. shocked many at the time, especially after taking a 3-1 series lead at one point. Hence, the Lower Merion High School product believed his team had finally come of age.

"The times that we'd played them, we weren't ready to step up and play this kind of game. We're ready now. We're ready," Bryant said.

That run may have been impressive, but the inexperience eventually showed. The Suns got their act together in the nick of time, winning the next three games of that series. L.A. bowed out of the 2006 postseason, although it was clear that the team was progressing.

Although it was a major breakthrough, the Tinseltown team still had to fine-tune their game. Brown, Walton, and Parker contributed, but it was clear their efforts were not enough.

Hence, Bryant had no choice but to carry the heavy burden of ensuring L.A. remained competitive. Kobe anchored the Lakers' offense, scoring at will to keep the Purple and Gold afloat.

Individually, Bryant set scoring marks one after the other. In that season, the 6-foot-6 guard set a single-season franchise record for most 40+ point games at the age of 27. Moreover, this was the same year he achieved his career-best in points, scoring 81 in the Lakers' 122-104 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Without question, it was a phenomenal year for the All-Star guard. Unfortunately, the Lakers' plight that season hardly improved. Hence, it only meant that his teammates were either not giving their all or were incompetent.

Related: "Graduations don't win or lose games" - Vince Carter's mom hit back at critics who said his graduation was the reason the Raptors lost Game 7 to Philly in 2001

In the early part of his career, Kobe demanded perfection from his teammates. He frowned at excuses and expected everyone to work as hard as he did for the Lakers to succeed.

However, as the years passed, Kobe matured and handled things differently. One teammate who witnessed all that was Lamar Odom. The Lakers forward detailed the changes in Bryant, using the jersey numbers Bean wore as a point of reference.

"It was tough on other players being around 8. He wasn't 24 yet. But being around 8, 8 was still stubborn. Selfishly stubborn. He didn't give a f**k. He would tell you he didn't give a f**k. 24 knew how to rub your back, what should I do, how should I approach this dude. But 8 didn't give a f**k. If you weren't on his page, then get the f**k out," Odom explained.

Overall, Kobe intended to help his teammates be better players. His guidance and work ethic were enriching, and the players benefited.

However, it remained that 6'6" guard and Odom still needed more help for the Lakers to be taken seriously. It was only when Pau Gasol and Ron Artest entered the fray that L.A. broke through. Both played key roles in helping L.A. win the 2009 and 2010 titles, Bryant's last championships.

POPULAR CATEGORY