The championship came one season after LA Lakers lost to Boston Celtics in NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant since then committed himself to give Los Angeles NBA champions title, and showed a renewed intensity throughout NBA playoffs to get it done. Bryant said his children called him "Grumpy" because he was so serious about winning an NBA title.
And now, at last, Kobe Bryant delivered the championship without Shaquille O'Neal, and he didn't have to be spectacular to do it. He scored 30 points in Game 5.
