Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in NBA history. He came from a loaded draft class in 1996, which included the likes of Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, and several other impact players. If you do the redraft, Bryant would probably be the number one pick. However, he slipped down to 13 to the Charlotte Hornets, which is insane. For those of you who don't know, Bryant was traded in a matter of minutes to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package centered around Vlade Divac. The rest is history, but what if they would have kept the Black Mamba?
Well for starters, the Lakers' dominant run in the early 2000's probably doesn't happen. For the Hornets though, they get a franchise-altering player. Instead of coming in with Shaquille O'Neal at the start of his career, he would have paired up with the likes of Muggsy Bogues and Dell Curry. They wouldn't have been championship contenders, but they would have been a fun brand of basketball to watch.
Kobe might have found himself in the starting lineup early on with the Hornets. He would have got to make more mistakes early, but possibly develop quickly into what it was that Charlotte needed. After losing Larry Johnson the summer of '96, the Hornets needed star power and Kobe would have provided that spark. Over time, the team would have molded around their young star in the making. Not playing with another star would have meant more touches for the Mamba as well.
As a team, the Hornets would still be in good shape. In the 96-97 season, the Hornets had a 54-28 record after trading away Bryant for Divac. Divac was a good player, but over time, Bryant would have elevated Charlotte to new heights. They would have made it a mission to find the perfect players to pair around their star. For example, a guy like Baron Davis might've still ended up being drafted by Charlotte in 1999, making for an explosive backcourt. They could have eventually found the perfect big man or third complementary piece to go alongside those two.
By the year 2000, the Hornets would have been contenders in the Eastern Conference. Bryant could have prevented Reggie Miller, Allen Iverson, and Jason Kidd of appearing in the Finals. Maybe even dethrone whoever was representing the Western Conference, who knows? Bryant was a box office player and would have been no matter where he played at.
He would have made a contender out of any NBA team he might've gotten drafted too and Charlotte is no different. Maybe the Charlotte Bobcats wouldn't have been a thing if Kobe was there. That was just a joke, but not really. Either way, Charlotte would have been on fire. The championships might not have rained down on Bryant in Charlotte, but the other individual stats and accolades would have been the same if not better. The 30,000 plus points, multiple time All-Star, defensive teams, All-NBA teams, you name it.
His legacy still would have been legendary with the Hornets. He was one of those guys who can carry a franchise and be the go-to player. He would have been the same type of player he became throughout his storied career. No doubt about it. Hopefully, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and the rest of the gang can amount to something close to what the Black Mamba was. Those youngsters probably watched him growing up and maybe even know that he was close to playing for their franchise. Regardless, Bryant touched the minds of many basketball players, so he probably did.
Unfortunately for the Hornets, they traded away Bryant and we never got to see him in the purple and teal. Still, everyone should be grateful that he played 20 long seasons in the NBA. Influenced generations, of not just basketball players, but athletes everywhere. Even after his passing, athletes around the world are still attempting to find their own kind of Mamba mentality. The world will never forget you, Kobe Bean Bryant.