Kobe Bryant’s dream of winning six NBA titles is getting tougher
The number ‘6’ is a yardstick to success in NBA. It was the number of times; the iconic Michael Jordan got his hands on the coveted NBA championship ring. Jordan won six NBA championships in two three-peats, first from 1991 to 1993 and then from 1996 to 1998. Jordan won all the rings with the Chicago Bulls and his legacy of brilliant ball play has inspired many.
Since then many players have tried to chase the feat, none have come as close as the Black Mamba of the league, Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant is one the player in the NBA who has been considered very similar to Michael Jordan. Kobe’s style of play, aggression, agility and his ability to shine against the odds are the key factors, why people relate his brilliance with that of the great Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant has won five NBA championships so far and to be great as Jordan he needs another NBA title.
But, now, after he and his team got swept out of the playoffs by the strident Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals, his goal of winning six NBA titles is beginning to look shaky. With this blow-out loss, Kobe also lost out on winning the rings in two sets of three peats.
Before their second round thrashing, the Lakers were in pretty good shape and were one of the realistic contenders for the Larry O’ Brian trophy. They qualified into the play-offs as number two seed from the Western Conference and then went on to thrash the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of playoffs. However, Dallas Mavericks’ 4-0 rout not only swept Lakers’ title run but also swept Bryant’s aspirations on winning his sixth NBA title.
A tough road lies ahead for Kobe now.
He is already 33 and already seems to have lost on his once touted athleticism. Not only that, power balance is quickly shifting to the Eastern Conference, with teams like the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat making their presence felt. Derrick Rose has just emerged and the Heat are still not at their full throttle. Considering these facts, and the hot and cold nature of Kobe’s own team, this year was probably his last shot at glory.
And then the Lakers’ head Coach Phil Jackson left. Jackson also drew a curtain on his coaching career after the Lakers’ knockout and his absence will hurt Bryant. Phil Jackson was the man behind Kobe’s success. He was the one, who truly influenced Kobe Bryant’s game and coached him to glory for many years. With him gone the road to the sixth ring has become even tougher.
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