Kobe Bryant‘s tryst with the Los Angeles Lakers has got to be one of the greatest episodes in NBA lore. Bryant gave LA his blood and sweat, and both he and his franchise celebrated massive success together. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ front office had never failed to make sure that Kobe, the franchise’s icon, always feels at home. Thankfully, the NBA has not lost such team owners and managers who care about their players’ well-being.

As recently observed by a three-time All-Star guard, such owners took the reins because of their love for the game of basketball. Furthermore, the ex-NBA star gave a shout-out to a popular franchise owner, and also recalled how LA welcomed Kobe when he got drafted.

An ex-NBA star praises a team owner

On the very first day of NBA free agency, Kyrie Irving agreed to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks. During his recent appearance on a VladTV episode, former NBA star Gilbert Arenas had gone prophetic about Irving’s decision. Arenas indeed had reasons to say Irving will stay in Dallas.

“Once [Mark] Cuban gets a hold of you…He can make a player feel like, loved, in a world where you’re treated like meat,” said Arenas.?“He [Cuban] is a basketball fan, and then a businessman.”

While speaking of owners like Cuban who treat their stars with love and respect, Arenas remembered how the then-Lakers owner Jerry Buss welcomed Kobe Bryant. “Mark Cuban is like Jerry Buss, when he had the Lakers. Magic Johnson is his guy. Kobe is his guy. When Kobe got drafted, Jerry Buss then told Shaq and the Lakers, he is off limits, you cannot haze him. There’s no rookie hazing him, fu** off,”?Arenas said.

Arenas then went on to laud Jerry Buss, as he had then ordered a superstar like Shaquille O’Neal to leave Kobe alone, because he saw a bright future in the then-teenager Bryant.

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Soon after Bryant joined the Lakers as a rookie, interesting episodes of rookie hazing had unfolded. Even then, key Lakers members had their future star Bryant’s back.

When Shaquille O’Neal faced flak for rookie hazing Kobe Bryant and others

Shaquille O’Neal is someone who has excelled in life but also learnt stuff the hard way. Therefore, during his stint with many teams, he made sure that the rookies also learn things the hard way. By the time Kobe Bryant joined the Lakers, Shaq had already become an experienced hand in the NBA. Apparently, he hazed players like Kobe and Derek Fisher during their rookie seasons, as it was a rite of passage in the NBA then.

However, as the story goes, Bryant ratted O’Neal out to the then GM, Jerry West. West quickly summoned the seven-footer to his office and gave him a piece of his mind, siding with an 18-year-old Kobe. Shaq and Kobe surely had bad blood outside the court, but while playing, they formed one of NBA’s greatest duos with a three-peat under their cap. The good old owner and GM of the Lakers too had a prophetic vision when they saw the franchise’s future in Kobe.

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What are your thoughts on owners who take an active role in their teams? Do you agree with Gilbert Arenas? Share your views in the comments!