Kobe Bryant has heard all that talk about the Los Angeles Lakers having to recruit players, but he thinks the Laker mystique should be enough to bring in the big names.
In an interview with ESPN’s Jalen Rose, Bryant scoffed at the notion of being asked to help recruit players to the Lakers, stating that the true greats didn’t need to be sold on the organization.
“You know, the thing about this franchise is that you shouldn’t need recruiting to come in it,” Bryant said. “It takes a special person to want to play for this franchise, and take the pressure that comes along with playing for this franchise. The pressure of following Magic [Johnson]’s footsteps, myself and the dynasty that we’ve had, it takes a special person to do that.
“And if I need to convince you come here, to carry that legacy forward, then you ain’t the one to be it.”
As much as Bryant would like it to work that way, it simply doesn’t. Star players want to hear what organizations plan to do to make themselves contenders and build around the talent they’re bringing in. It’s not about being sold on handling the pressure in most cases — it’s about being sold on whether the franchise wants to win as badly as the player does. Lakers fans know that, and that’s why they have been trying to recruit a California-born star in their own way.
