BASKETBALL NBA FINALS:KOBE BRYANT has admitted "a big old monkey" is off his back after winning his fourth NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, his first without the help of former team-mate Shaquille O'Neal.
Bryant led the Lakers with 30 points to their 15th NBA championship late on Sunday with a 99-86 win over the Orlando Magic in game five of the NBA finals at Orlando’s Amway Arena, to seal the best-of-seven series 4-1.
Bryant also picked up the finals MVP award thanks to an average of 32.4 points over the series.
But more importantly for the Lakers’ number 24 it was his first championship win since the end of his partnership with O’Neal, who now plies his trade with Phoenix.
Many critics had questioned whether Bryant and the Lakers would be able to win a crown again without the duo playing together, a question Bryant has answered.
“It was like Chinese water torture,” Bryant said. “I would cringe every time (I heard those comments). I was just like, it’s a challenge I’m just going to have to accept, because there’s no way I’m going to argue it.
“You can say it until you’re blue in the face and rationalise it until you’re blue in the face, but it’s not going anywhere until you do something about it.
“That’s the biggest thing. I don’t have to hear that stuff anymore.
“I think we as a team answered the call because they understood the challenge that I had, and we all embraced it.”
He added: “It finally felt like a big old monkey was off my back.
“It felt so good to be able to have this moment. For this moment to be here and to reflect back on the season and everything that you’ve been through, it’s top of the list, man.”
But the win was far from an individual achievement, as five other Lakers players scored in double figures. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol had double-doubles of 17 points and 10 rebounds and 14 points and 15 boards respectively, while Trevor Ariza added 15 points and Derek Fisher had 13.
“I think as team-mates we understand what kind of player he is, what he brings to the table, and we try to complement each other,” Gasol said.
“I think what we’ve been doing well this year is understanding what our roles were, what our abilities are out there as individuals and make it work as a team.
“It really worked out well. I think we all understood how to play this game together and to take us to this championship.”
The victory also gave the Lakers’ Phil Jackson a record 10th NBA title as a head coach, surpassing the Boston Celtics’ legendary Red Auerbach, who won nine in 10 years. The Celtics still hold the most titles at 17.
Jackson had won six with the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls and this was his fourth title at the helm of the Lakers.
“Having won 10 championships is a remarkable accomplishment, there’s no doubt about it,” Jackson said, while his Orlando counterpart, Stan Van Gundy, added: “You look at the guy’s record, it’s undeniable.”
Reaching the finals represented a great achievement for the Magic, who were playing in the series for only the second time.
That proved little consolation to Dwight Howard, who said: “The only thing you can do is look back on the season, look back on what we did as a team. Personally look at what I did, just try to come back next year with the same fire and try to accomplish our goal.”
