“Job’s not finished.” Kobe Bryant‘s famous words after the Lakers went 2-0 up in the 2009 NBA Finals perfectly describe who the Black Mamba was. Winning was the only parameter for success for the 5x NBA champion. However, that desperation for rings also led to his eventual downfall, as per his former teammate Metta World Peace, fka Ron Artest. After winning back-to-back championships, the “wild” dynamics affected the Lakers’ run in the 2010-11 NBA season.

Appearing on ‘The OGs’ podcast, Metta said, “I think after Kobe got 5 (championships), he wanted number 6. You saw it in his eyes.” Revisiting the 2010-11 NBA season, the ex-Lakers forward mentioned, “Instead of letting it happen naturally get to the Finals, I think Kobe wanted it too much.”

“We lose Game 1. We up 7, we lose Game 1. Same thing in Game 2, we up whatever, damn, we lose game 2. Now we in Dallas down 0-2, we get swept,” he added. He re-emphasized that the Black Mamba strongly desired to achieve number six, stating, “If he would have got number six, it would be a tie for the GOAT.” When asked about his GOAT, Metta identified Michael Jordan as the player.

However, this is just what the ex-Lakers star feels. While Kobe was not at his best during the 2011 season, other factors too should be taken into consideration for the Lakers.

What went wrong with the Lakers in the 2010-11 season?

Coming off the back of back-to-back championships, the Lakers had a strong regular season record of 57-25 in 2010-11. However, their championship aspirations fell short with a second-round playoff sweep against the Dallas Mavericks. Though Kobe wasn’t having his best series, it is worth noting that the Lakers roster, particularly their core players, were aging, and injuries began to take a toll.

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The Black Mamba himself was dealing with various injuries throughout the season. This not only affected his performance but limited his effectiveness on the court. Apart from this, Lakers coach Phil Jackson was also in his final season with the team. It is said that the transition to a new coaching staff was also one of the causes behind the Lakers’ playoffs downfall.