Last night, the fans in the United Center proved you can be a Bulls fan but a die-hard Kobe Bryant fan as well. Kobe has become a global icon to say the least. However, when the Lakers hit a bump in the road in 2007, the future Hall of Famer thought he’d be sent to Chicago in a trade.
“My wife and I were actually planning travel arrangements to come out to Chicago and look at some homes and schools and things like that. Then once [Shaquille O’Neal] demanded a trade, it was like, ‘There’s no way they’re going to trade me anywhere.’ The sign-and-trade option just pretty much went off the table. ” – Kobe Bryant on 2007 trade rumors
“So if I was fortunate enough to come here, if that trade had happened and I’d be here, it’s not a pressure situation to live up to what he’s done. It’s more, can I carry on this man’s legacy? Can I do it justice? Can I represent Chicago the way that it should be represented in his honor? Just a tremendous, tremendous amount of influence.” – Kobe Bryant
The Lakers were asking for Luol Deng in return, but Kobe Bryant used his no-trade clause on the deal wanting to be traded to Chicago with Deng there. Nearly three years later, Kobe Bryant added two more Finals trophies to his shelf.
