First Title Without Shaq
Since the departure of Shaquille O’Neal, the Los Angeles Lakers, even with the NBA’s best player (Kobe Bryant), struggled to even make the playoffs, much less make much noise once they were there. However, during the 2008-09 season, the Lakers, with the addition of Pau Gasol the year before, managed to win its first NBA Championship since trading Shaq to the Miami Heat.
Most importantly, Kobe, who also won his first NBA Finals MVP during that run, finally got his first chip without Shaq.
It was important for Kobe to prove that he could win a championship without Shaq, who had won one in Miami (without Kobe) a few years before. Kobe had finally got his. This championship was HIS.
Next: Cementing His Lakers Moment