Left game with left shoulder injury

The Los Angeles Lakers called the Cleveland Cavaliers about a Kobe Bryant-for-LeBron James trade in 2007, reports ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

It is the same shoulder Love had surgically repaired last spring. Love yelled in pain and headed for the bench with 45 seconds left in the second quarter, then walked immediately to the locker room with the shoulder dangling. Love said his arm got tangled up with Kobe Bryant. Of course, if L.A. was going to trade Bryant-who was arguably the best player in the game at the time-it would require something of equal value in return.

Bryant or James has played in every NBA Finals from 2007 through previous year, though never against each other.

Andrew Bogut has played easily one of his best games of the season, registering 13 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and an season-high 6 blocked shots in the Golden State Warriors’ 123-110 win over the Houston Rockets. Bryant told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes that he “would have declined” the trade if it was accepted upon since he had a no-trade clause in his contract. Led by James’ 17 points and eight assists in the first half, the Cavs opened up a 64-47 lead at the intermission. “I just felt like we were a completely different generation”. Kyrie Irving had his way with the Lakers’ perimeter defenders, scoring 35 points while he danced the night away. Lue continues to reshape the Cavs into his vision and thus far that has meant some monster games from both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the team’s two biggest stars. The Cavaliers tallied 120 points, 53 rebounds and 27 assists in the win.

There is a mutual respect between Bryant and James, who shared a hug when Bryant checked out of the game in the final minute to a standing ovation.

Love’s exit overshadowed Bryant’s final appearance in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND – When Phil Jackson arranged for his former pupil and Kobe Bryant’s idol, Michael Jordan, to meet the brash, young Los Angeles Lakers phenom for the first time, there was one nugget of knowledge he imparted to Bryant. “From the time he came into the league it was more helping him, giving him direction, advice”. Moreover, one of the more lopsided trades in National Basketball Association history featuring Pao Gasol changed any trade demands Bryant once had – as the Lakers went on to capture two National Basketball Association titles in 2009 and 2010.

Lakers: One of Bryant’s roles in his final season is to mentor rookie D’Angelo Russell, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft.