The Nostalgia Of Kobe
For the past week, I’ve read and watched a disgruntled Kobe Bryant roll his eyes at reporters, tell his teammates to just do their job regardless of whether they are floated in trade rumors, and in general, act condescending towards anyone who dares to doubt anything about his play or his team.
It’s nothing new for Kobe to have an inflated view of himself, especially now given that the consensus is he’s on the downside of his career. But seeing Kobe like this gives me a sense that Kobe is destined for a huge season that will prove all the doubters wrong.
I’m not interested in debating whether the Lakers will be better or worse, or if Dallas has made the necessary moves to offset the loss of Tyson Chandler and whether the Thunder are ready to take another leap towards a title.
Instead, I need to understand why after last year’s disappointing playoff exit, and a roster that’s been weakened in recent days, I still choose to believe in Kobe and the Lakers to win the title this year.
After some thought, I’ve come to realize that believing in Kobe is really just a reflection on how I interpret past experiences and believe in the power of nostalgia. I started following basketball when Jordan returned to the Bulls for a final three-peat, so much of my basketball memories involve Shaq and Kobe.
So I choose to remember Kobe for who he was, and that makes it easier for me believe that he can repeat that performance even as he ages.
Or as Woody Allen put it: ”Nostalgia is an unhealthy trap that’s very seductive. The problem is, life is a very cruel, tragic, and unsatisfying experience and you always think that another time in the past would have been ideal for you.”
So despite signs of decline, and all the other factors that would seem to point to the team being more of a potential contender than a frontrunner, memories of Kobe’s past makes the Lakers the logical choice for me as champions this season.
