In the middle of the championship pursuit by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010, Andrew Bynum faced an injury that threatened their chances to win the championship. When the Black Mamba Kobe Bryant was asked about the injury of his teammate, he showed no sympathy whatsoever for his teammate.
Bynum injured himself during a game in the 2009-10 season. He had an avulsion fracture in his right index finger and needed surgery. He refused to undergo surgery and endured the tremendous pain showing what his priorities were. He chose to put his team forward instead of his comfort and this demonstrated his championship mentality.
Kobe showed no sympathy for Andrew Bynum’s injury
Kobe Bryant is known for his strong mentality and play style. He earned the nickname Black Mamba because of his unwavering determination to achieve what he wanted and his fearless play style on the court. Kobe believes that to win things you need to be able to endure the pain and suffering that comes along the way.
When Kobe got to know about Bynum’s injury in May of 2010, his response was a fitting reflection of his mentality. He replied, “Welcome to the Club.” This response represented his mentality and that of the other players on the team who knew that pain and sacrifice are essential parts of success and glory. He was seen to be cold to the news in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Kobe possibly with his response wanted to let Bynum know that his injury may be significant but at the moment it was just a challenge to overcome to achieve greatness for himself and his team. Bynum’s decision of not undergoing surgery and putting the team first mirrored the ambitions of Bryant. Bynum was aware of his importance in the team and on the court and his decision to play through the pain turned out to be a very important one.
Did the Lakers win the 2010 NBA Finals championship?
With Bynum refusing to undergo surgery and deciding to play Lakers glided through playoffs into the finals of the 2010 NBA championship. This championship meant a lot for the Lakers as they were matched against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had humiliated Lakers in the 2008 NBA finals and Lakers never got to turn to pay them back.
The match was very heated with the Lakers side barely holding together as some players were injured during the season and the Lakers had lost Shaquille O’Neal, making this Kobe’s first title opportunity without Shaq. The team always looked on the verge of collapse but kept going because of the sheer will of players.
Lakers secured the victory for them after an outstanding match which left the Staples Center cheering for them. The match was neck to neck with the score for the game being 79-83. The Celtics had the lead for most of the games and the Lakers were trailing them. Ron Artest changed the game in the last quarter and the Lakers became champions of the 2010 NBA season.
This victory was historic for the Lakers as it was the tenth for the owner Jerry Buss and the fifth for Bryant. Kobe’s resilience was the key to the Lakers victory and this became a moment engraved in history.
What do you think of the 2010 NBA finals? Was Kobe right in his mentality and response to Bynum’s injury? Let us know your opinions in the comments.
