Committed to Winning

In the weeks since "The Decision," there has been a lot of debate about LeBron James and whether he is really totally committed to winning. I guess time will tell with that, but the more I've thought about it, I think that quietly there is another NBA superstar who has shown his total commitment to winning — Kobe Bryant.

Bryant was largely regarded as being near the top of the league prior to July 8, but since LeBron's big show, Kobe's esteem has continued to grow. That's because he has five championship rings. That's because he's been one of the best on the floor for a long time. But mostly, that's because Kobe really does putting winning above everything else.

That wasn't always true. After winning three titles and missing out on a fourth, Kobe was more interested in his star rising. He had a tiff with his best teammate — Shaq — and managed to cajole the team into removing his Hall of Fame coach — Phil Jackson. In that, Kobe got what he always wanted, to be the Man on the Lakers. And he found it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. What he really wanted to be is a winner. So he changed his ways.

He got the team to bring Derek Fisher back. He got the team to bring Phil Jackson back, a man that had just finished slamming him as "uncoachable" in a book. That shows character, and demonstrates a desire to win above everything else. That's why the Lakers have been in the Finals the last three years, taking the title the last two.

That's also why, when necessary, Kobe uses his status to impact the team's roster. He was pivotal in making sure Lamar Odom was resigned last summer and that Derek Fisher was back in the fold this summer. And he's also helped bring in the fiercest competitors to make the team better, even when they didn't get along.

Last summer it was Ron Artest, a man that he sparred with in the playoffs and a man that practically stalked Kobe in the off season. Most superstars would run the other way. Kobe saw a tenacious competitor that could help him win, so he got Artest to the Lakers.

This year has been no different. First Kobe tried to recruit Raja Bell, a man he famously brawled with on the floor and in the media. Why? Because he knew it would add to the Lakers toughness. Spurned there, he moved on to Matt Barnes who became a Laker. Barnes actually taunted and sparred with Kobe last year as a member of the Orlando Magic. So why did Kobe want him, because Barnes helps the Lakers compete. He is showing his commitment to winning titles as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

So while it is a formidable challenge to think about facing LeBron, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh with the Heat, it takes more than super star buddies to get a title. It takes a commitment to winning. Kobe has that. Will see if the Miami Nazgul can muster it up.