Sounds like Kobe went Rogue
Kobe had clearly taken the dark path, but outside the conclave. This may have made him a liability IMO.
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excerpt from https://www.slamonline.com/nba/kobe-bryant-cover-story/
"Bryant still clearly loves the game that provided those opportunities. It’s hard, then, not to imagine him one day hopping in a helicopter, like he did during his latter years as a Laker, and guiding the current Lakers back to prominence. It’s even harder not to imagine his friends and Laker execs Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka not embracing his presence in the building. If not right now, when LeBron could likely use his guidance, then in six years when Gigi is off wearing a college uniform.
“The answer is no, I’m not doing it,” says Bryant. He cuts off any follow-up question and continues. “I’m not interested. It’s not even a couple years. I’m just not interested. I don’t want to be a GM. I don’t want to own a team. I don’t want to coach. I have no interest in any of that. That’s an easy answer for me.”
Kobe Bryant is busy with his business. Busy with his books. Busy with his little Mambas."
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His kid show starring his side kick, a serpent, and his new book series, was clearly designed to take kids to the dark side.