The Empty Throne Of Kobe Bryant

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY SportsIt has been just one year to the day since Kobe Bryant laced up his sneakers and put on that familiar purple and gold uniform. It’s amazing how quickly we move on. I’ve already become accustomed to watching the Lakers without Bryant as a new generation attempts to carve out their own legacy.

Yet, even as life without Kobe settles into the norm, there will always be that uneasy feeling that something is missing. The Lakers no longer have that transcendent star to mesmerize us, to keep us on the edge of our seats in anticipation of the next display of greatness.

Instead, we look for hope in every game, searching for flickering embers that may one day be stoked…