New Orleans Pelicans All-Star big man Anthony Davis announced that he was requesting a trade from the Pelicans earlier this week and was fined $50,000 by the NBA shortly after.
If it were up to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, Davis wouldn’t have had to pull out his checkbook for speaking his mind about his own career wishes.
“Players should have the freedom to be able to speak their piece,” Bryant said. “Listen, management certainly does that, and I’ve been very lucky to play with the Lakers, a class one organization that takes care of their players. But a lot of players aren’t that fortunate, and at the first sign that they can improve themselves they’ll cast you aside.
“So you can’t just have it one way and say, ‘Players need to be loyal to organizations,’ but not demand the same thing the other way around. So, until that day happens, players should definitely have the opportunity to speak up and control their own fate. It’s just the way it should be, it’s fair.”
These are words of true wisdom from Bryant, and an important reminder that players do not deserve to be villainized by their own fanbase or any other simply for wanting to improve their situation.
While Bryant does not currently work with the Lakers organization, he is seen as one of its primary advocates in the world of basketball and beyond.
Considering his words and clear praise of the Lakers, it’s likely that Davis will be even more interested in becoming a part of the unequaled legacy of Lakers basketball.
