Kobe Bryant late Career push: even wanted a 42 Superstar Miami heat at Lakers is finally on his way to los Angelos

Toward the end of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant reportedly tried to recruit former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade to join him in L.A.

“Bryant had tried to cajole the Lakers into fielding better teams around him in his final few seasons in L.A., recruiting free agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, and encouraging a trade for Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported.

Had the Lakers succeeded in bringing Wade to Los Angeles, it might have eased the burden on Bryant, who endured several tough seasons leading up to his retirement. Although Wade was no longer in his prime near the end of Bryant’s career, he remained one of the top players in the league. For instance, during Bryant’s final season in 2015-16, Wade averaged 19.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, earning another All-Star selection.

Bryant’s early career with the Lakers was filled with success. He won five NBA championships, including three alongside Shaquille O’Neal, and secured Finals MVP honors in 2009 and 2010. However, in his last three seasons, the Lakers failed to win more than 27 games in any year.

The 2015-16 Lakers were arguably the weakest team Bryant ever played for. They won just 17 games out of 82, and Bryant, though leading the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game, struggled with efficiency, shooting only 35.8% from the field. Aside from Bryant, Jordan Clarkson (15.5 points per game) and Lou Williams (15.3) were the team’s main scorers.

Unfortunately, Bryant had to conclude his legendary career with a Lakers squad that was one of the NBA’s worst. The team finished with the worst record in the Western Conference and the second-worst in the league, just ahead of the 10-72 Philadelphia 76ers.

While it’s unlikely Bryant would have captured another championship in his final years, even if Wade had joined the team, their pairing could have made the Lakers far more competitive during that challenging stretch.