Teams Make Playoffs, Kobe, Not Players

The old adage "be careful what you ask for" should certainly be the primary thought on the mind of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

After winning three consecutive NBA titles -- and playing in a fourth last year -- Bryant made it clear that he no longer wanted to play in the shadow of Shaquille O'Neal. So he forced the Lakers to choose between him and Shaq, and then saw Phil Jackson walk away, saying enough was enough of the antics in La-La Land.

One year later, Bryant is surely at home resting his bruised body after a grueling season as well as a bruised ego.

Why? Because the playoffs are where legends are made and for Bryant, not being able to partake in the action must be driving him nuts.

Yet he has no one else to blame but himself.

Like it or not, basketball is about the five players on the court at one time, as well as the critical need to have a successful bench. You can't find a single team in any major professional league that has won a championship on the back of one player. Bill Russell, the greatest winner ever, didn't do it by himself with the Boston Celtics. Vince Lombardi was an awesome coach, but the Green Packers didn't get the name Titletown, U.S.A. because of one player. And George Steinbrenner may think the world revolves around him, but without all of the players working toward one goal, he would simply be an owner shelling out big bucks with little in return. (Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, are you listening?)

Selfishness has no place in team sports and that is the message that Bryant must learn. And maybe he should holler at Kwame Brown of the Washington Wizards, who has been suspended for the rest of the playoffs for conduct unbecoming of a player. That's not how you become a success in this league.

If Kobe wants further evidence of players who put their ego in check in order to sacrifice for the team, check out the players who did play a critical role in their teams advancing to the playoffs:

Rasheed Wallace. A malcontent if there ever was one during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. No one could control the out-of-control Wallace. It seemed that each night he led SportsCenter with a volatile outburst that led to technical fouls. He was a problem child in Oregon, but since being traded to Atlanta and landing in Detroit, he is now a world champion and has been a model citizen. He quickly learned that on any Larry Brown team, it's about T-E-A-M.

Ricky Davis. This is a man who threw a ball off the opposing team's backboard late in a game in order to qualify for a triple-double. De La Soul's "Me, Myself and I" was the guy's theme song. He chafed at the attention paid to LeBron James when the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him and was subsequently shipped to Boston. There Doc Rivers put him on the bench and turned him into one of the best sixth men in the league.

Tracy McGrady. We've previously talked about his unwillingness to lead and willingness to pout his way around the court if his team wasn't winning. Now he's stepped up his play with the Rockets and shows signs of being a true leader.

Allen Iverson. The 76'ers were on the sidelines last year, one year after playing for an NBA title. Iverson was a huge part in the team's failure to make the playoffs because he didn't elevate the play of his teammates; it was all about Allen. But he has refined his game, somewhat, and more players are now involved.

Kobe, look at these guys and learn from them. If so, you'll be a better ballplayer and an even more valuable teammate.