By some research Kobe is a sociopath and a sociopath just want to win, be the no.1 of the team is no doubt the first thing he need to satisfy himself everyday.
1+++++++++ to all of comments above, I know I am going to get flammed for this by basketball purists, Laker fans, and most of all, Kobe cheerleaders. Kobe is a terrible negative when it comes to many basketball intangibles and inter-team dynamics/relations. I believe that's the one aspect that makes players, like MJ, LeBron, Magic, Bird, Shaq, and others ... superior to Kobe. He doesn't make an effort to better his game or career in that aspect, like these other players did or do. He's much closer to players, like Melo, A.l., or Nique with the one-minded taking on all comers scoring-wise, even to the point of freezing out teammates. Look at his relationship with Shaq, Bynum, Dwight, and to an extent Gasol, or even further look at what happened to Eddie Jones (when such such wanted to be a more primer focus). I'll even throw in the 2004 debacle with Karl Malone and Gary Payton. The Lakers won't be winning another title with Kobe Bryant, if the organization doesn't rein him in to a point. He's had a history of running other talent players out the door, especially if they are near or equally as good as he is, quite literally. After this season, the Lakers have a chance of adding a top 5-12 talent from one of the best possible drafts in recent years and a few upper tier free agents, which could boast the team's title contention for the next few seasons and sustaining a fairly competitive playoff-caliber roster in their post Kobe years. If it were up to me, I would've let Kobe Bryant go in a similar situation to what happened in Indianapolis with Peyton Manning (or asked him to understand the needs of the franchise) . Put most of my chips in Dwight Howard basket or risked being absolutely terrible for one season to grab a high lottery pick, build a younger roster, and throw money at upcoming free agents.
