Did the Chris Paul trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011 kill a Lakers title run in the Bryant era?

You mean the *veto* to the potential CP3 trade and no it didn’t kill any title run. This is something Lakers and Kobe fans keep being bitter about and I think after the ‘Nash stole Kobe’s MVP’ line this is the second most common whining I hear from Kobe fans is that the NBA was somehow out to get Kobe and prevent CP3 from joining him to ‘protect Jordan’s legacy’. What a load of BS.

Here are the facts ok?

• Kobe was nearing the end of his prime in 2011. His performance in the 2011 playoffs especially against the Mavs, was below what many expected of him. Even if he could still play at an All-NBA level, his body was going to give out sooner than later regardless of how much D’Antoni (who many blame for Kobe’s achilles injury) played him. He just worked his body way too much a career ending injury was bound to happen.
• CP3 is also notoriously injury prone. So any title run would have to assume that CP3 is perfectly healthy the whole way through which is not guaranteed
• They lose Gasol and Odom in the trade. This is huge because the Lakers absolutely needed their size and rebounding in order to win with Kobe as the leader. Due to Kobe’s playstyle, he needed by necessity to be surrounded by talented rebounders and big men to offset his bad shot selections. The 2010 Finals is absolutely proof of this – Kobe and Gasol needed to combine for 33 rebounds in order to win Game 7 by a mere 4 points. Losing them in the trade and getting a 6 foot tall PG back is going to completely kill the system that Kobe was effective in.
• Kobe has never been proven to win with a star perimeter player. Sure you can say Eddie Jones wasn’t a great fit, Gary Payton was suddenly old when he joined the Lakers despite being an all star the year before, Nash just happened to be also injured and old when he joined the Lakers despite being all star the year before, Jeremy Lin just suddenly regressed from his Houston level performances when he joined the Lakers etc yes all just a coincidence right? Regardless, Kobe hasn’t been able to show that he can successfully win with a perimeter star.
• The Big 3 Spurs with Kawhi, Big 3 OKC, and most importantly, the Heatles are going to be in the way of the potential Kobe/CP3 Lakers. How are they beating them? You lose Gasol and your two best rebounders so who’s guarding Duncan? who’s guarding KD? who’s guarding Lebron? Who’s outboxing them in the paint?

The thought that Kobe can even get past the second round with CP3 is honestly wishful thinking let alone some kind of dynasty where they win multiple rings together – another delusional Kobe fanboy conspiracy theory put to rest.