After the 2004 departure of Shaquille O’Neal, many doubted if Kobe Bryant will ever reach the promised land with the Los Angeles Lakers again. Think again. Last night Bryant, Phil Jackson, and the rest of the Lakers proved all of the doubters (and the haters) wrong when they captured the 2008-09 NBA Championship last night. Kobe Bryant is only the second person in NBA Finals history to average 30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and win the Larry O’ Brien trophy joining Michael Jordan as the only other player to do so. This is the 15th NBA Championship in the long, illustrious history of the Lakers and gives coach Phil Jackson his 10th NBA title overall, passing Red Auerbach for the most championships all time for a coach.

Congratulations to Kobe, Phil and the rest of the Lakers.

- Kazeem Famuyide