Special Editor : Lee Dong-hwan, Reporter for Rookie Magazine

Basketball isn't just a game; it's a tapestry woven with history, stories, and significance. We delve into the narratives that lie both on the surface and beneath the rich tapestry of basketball.

※ This article is a collaborative special feature between Eland Museum and Rookie Magazine, Korea's premier basketball publication.

In NBA history, only three players have dedicated over two decades of their career to a single team. This elite group, ironically, came into prominence during the 2000s—a time when the notion of a franchise star was gradually fading.

The legends in question are Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, and Udonis Haslem.

Nowitzki made history with the Dallas Mavericks from 1998 to 2019, Bryant became synonymous with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016, and Haslem remained loyal to the Miami Heat from 2003 to 2023.

Among these stalwarts, Kobe Bryant emerged as the quintessential star, despite facing undervaluation until the midpoint of his career. Drafted straight from high school in 1996, Kobe initially played as a sixth man. However, by the 1998-1999 season, he had firmly established himself as the Lakers' starting shooting guard.

By 1998, Kobe not only became the youngest player to start in an All-Star game but also began to cement his status as a league luminary. In 1999, his inclusion in his first All-NBA Team heralded his rise as one of the league's preeminent figures. The 1999-2000 season saw him average 22.5 points per game, heralding his tenure as part of the Lakers' dynamic duo alongside Shaquille O'Neal. The Lakers clinched three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002, marking the team's historic three-peat—a feat only matched by the 1990s Chicago Bulls since the inception of modern basketball in the 1980s.

Yet, the shadow of underestimation lingered over Kobe, even following the three-peat, largely due to the towering presence of Shaquille O'Neal. O'Neal, self-proclaimed as 'MDE' (Most Dominant Ever), left many to attribute the Lakers' success more to him than to Kobe's prowess. 

In the 2002-2003 season, Kobe displayed unparalleled dedication and skill by participating in all 82 games, where he averaged an impressive 30.0 points per game. Following Shaquille O'Neal's trade to Miami in the summer of 2004, Kobe's role as the Lakers' undisputed ace became undeniable. His ability to lead on the court was no longer in question, marking the beginning of a new era for the Lakers with Kobe at the helm.

Following O'Neal's departure to Miami in 2004, Kobe undisputedly became the Lakers' linchpin. The 2005-2006 season was a standout, with Kobe scoring 81 points in a single game—a feat that earned him the nickname 'Mr.81'—and claiming the scoring title by averaging 35.4 points per game.

Despite these personal achievements, the Lakers struggled to convert Kobe's scoring prowess into championship success, leading to critiques of Kobe's inability to win without O'Neal. This narrative persisted until a transformative trade in the 2007-2008 season brought Pau Gasol to the Lakers, bolstering the team's championship credentials.

Kobe's redemption came two years later.

Midway through the 2007-2008 season, the Lakers acquired Spanish big man Pau Gasol in a trade with Memphis. That season, the Lakers secured the top seed in the West, and Kobe was awarded his first regular-season MVP. However, the Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, led by the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, in the 2008 Finals. 

However, the Lakers overcame Orlando in the 2009 Finals and Boston in a grueling seven-game series in the 2010 Finals, avenging their loss two years prior and achieving a back-to-back championship. Kobe's consecutive Finals MVP awards in 2009 and 2010 completely changed the perception of him as a player. 

Kobe was no longer in the shadow of Shaquille O'Neal. He had become the new icon of LA sports, leading the prestigious Lakers to victory as their ace.