NBA legend Kobe Bryant explains why Kawhi Leonard snubbed LeBron James and Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers will be absolutely fine despite missing out on Kawhi Leonard – because they still managed to acquire Anthony Davis.

That’s the viewpoint of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers were one of the three frontrunners to sign three-time NBA champion Leonard this summer, along with the Toronto Raptors and his eventual landing point- the LA Clippers.

Despite leading the Raptors to the 2019 NBA title, he was believed to be set on a move back to his native Los Angeles.

After Leonard demanded the Clippers improve their roster, they went out and traded for Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This led to Kawhi inking a two-year deal with the Clippers, snubbing their cross-arena rivas.

But Bryant insists that despite the Lakers missing out on the 2019 NBA Finals MVP, they will still be fine this season because they have two “freaks of nature”.

Those two “freaks” Bryant was referring to are Anthony Davis and LeBron James.

James, a three-time champion, joined the franchise in 2018, before they traded away almost their entire young core for Davis in the summer before free agency.

“I’m sure Kawhi wants to take the challenge of winning independent of playing with LeBron,” Bryant said.

“Maybe that was the same for P.G. I think they relish the challenge of taking on something new.

“I don’t think it was a slight at the Lakers.

“It was more about circumstances and what was already here in L.A. and on the Lakers, and they wanted to take the challenge of building something new.

“But the Lakers did OK. I saw a lot of Lakers fans were very disappointed, and rightfully so, that they didn’t get Kawhi.

“But you did get Anthony Davis. The Lakers have two freaks of nature.

“They’re going to be fine. It’s a hell of a time to be in L.A.”

source: express.co.uk