Bryant thought he was headed to Bulls
Before playing his final NBA game in Chicago on Sunday, Kobe Bryant was asked about those long-ago rumors about him being traded to the Bulls. How close was it to actually happening?
According to Bryant, very close. A potential episode of "Celebrity House Hunters" close.
"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," Bryant told a room full of reporters at the United Center. "Then when Shaq (O'Neal) demanded a trade, it was like, 'There's no way they're going to trade me.' At the time, the trade option just went off the table."
Bryant remained a lifelong Laker and received an enthusiastic send off from fans at the UC. Receiving loud cheers every time he scored, Bryant produced 22 points, while the Bulls survived a late rally to beat the lowly Lakers 126-115.
The Bulls found a unique way to honor Bryant before the game. Public address announcer Tommy Edwards introduced the other four Lakers starters, plus coach Byron Scott. Then a Bryant tribute video was shown on the scoreboard, with plenty of highlights, plus tributes from Gasol and Rose. Rose called the "Michael Jordan of our generation."
The video ended with Gasol, a former Lakers teammate, introducing Bryant for the last time at the United Center.
"I don't like to claim the spotlight," Gasol said after the game. "It was suggested to me and I was totally fine with it. I think they put a great video, a great intro together and I was proud and honored to be a part of it."
Bryant, 37, had a decent game, hitting 8 of 20 shots from the field. At the start of the third quarter, Bryant hit 4 jumpers in a row as the Lakers tried isolating him against Mike Dunleavy. The fifth Bryant jumper missed, however, and Dunleavy sprinted downcourt for an uncontested layup off a pass from Rose.
Early in the fourth quarter, fans started a "We want Kobe" chant while Bryant lounged at the very end of the Lakers bench. He finally came back at the 3:08 mark with his team trailing by 7. He scored one more basket, then checked out to a standing ovation with just under a minute remaining.
When the game ended, Gasol and Bryant shared an embrace in front of the Lakers bench before Bryant walked off through a sea of cellphone cameras.
"I feel honored I have this type of relationship and his respect throughout the years and we won a couple championships together, which is amazing," Gasol said.
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg had no problem with the love shown to Bryant.
"He deserves everything he's getting out there," Hoiberg said. "I'm sure it's happening in every gym. He deserves this farewell tour. Pretty cool to be a part of it."
A couple of things stood out for the Bulls (29-26) on this night. One was long-range shooting as the Bulls made 13 of 19 attempts from 3-point range. The other was a deep pool of scorers. If E'Twaun Moore can get 24 points, Bobby Portis 17 and Doug McDermott 16 against good teams, the Bulls will be onto something. Rose continued his stretch of strong play with 24 points, while Gasol scored 21.
Getting back to his near-Bulls experience, Bryant was talking about the summer of 2004, when the Lakers were coming off a Finals loss to Detroit and Bryant was a free agent. The Bulls surprised most everyone by landing an audience with Bryant. John Paxson and coach Scott Skiles flew out to Los Angeles for the meeting.
How the Bulls could have swung a sign-and-trade is anyone's guess, but they had just drafted Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, so they had young pieces and future draft picks to offer. Eventually, O'Neal was traded to Miami for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and two draft picks.
There was more Bryant-to-Chicago talk in 2007. On the day of the season opener, a false rumor made the rounds about a Bryant trade to the Bulls being a done deal. In fact, it was never close to happening. There have been suggestions the trade didn't happen because the Bulls refused to include Deng, but the Lakers were never serious about trading their star. He stuck around and won two more championships in Los Angeles.
Bryant was asked a follow-up question about whether he could have handled the pressure of following Michael Jordan's footsteps.
"You've known me for how long?" Bryant answered. "Really? Do I seem like the type to cower to something like that?"
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