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There are few more striking moments in the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's tragic passing than the image of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James being consoled as he got off the team plane moments after learning about the tragic accident. There's no doubt that Kobe's death hit LeBron hard, but it was in this trying time that he emerged as a true leader for his squad.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that LeBron played a pivotal role for the Lakers during the entire organization's mourning period. The 35-year-old veteran went out of his way to ensure that his teammates were able to deal with this tragedy as best they could:
Then, in the wake of Bryant's death, James worked alongside Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka to help manage his teammates in the emotional days. While Buss and Pelinka provided support to the Bryant family, James connected with team members, and then Silver directly, as he pushed for the postponement of a game against the LA Clippers because he didn't believe the team was emotionally ready to play.
James understood that this was a very delicate time for the entire team, and that as their talisman, it was his responsibility to ensure the boat remained afloat. The loss of a legend, idol, mentor, and friend is not something most people are equipped to deal with on their own, and LeBron made sure that they would all face this tragedy as a team.
The Lakers will continue to mourn Kobe Bryant, but they're lucky to have a terrific leader like LeBron James to help them cope with this tragedy. Los Angeles will continue to battle for a championship the rest of this season, and it would mean a lot of the franchise is able to pull it off in these trying times.
