The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances." –ESPN Press Release This year's 16th annual ESPYs awards features 37 categories, but there are two that Lakers' fans should focus on–Best Male Athlete & [...]...

Contract Status: Under contract As the Lakers ascended to the top of the Western Conference standings in 2007-08, Kobe elevated his status as the NBA's top player, winning his first Most Valuable Player Award in what was arguably his best season to date. While Bryant began the regular season with a 45 point assault against [...]...

Contract Status: Under contract While the internal improvement of the Lakers' younger players and the trades for Gasol and Ariza certainly boosted team morale amid an injury-riddled season, Derek Fisher's steady leadership and lethal outside shooting were instrumental in helping L.A. reach the NBA Finals. Returning from stints as a Warrior and Jazz, the [...]...

Contract Status: Under contract Gasol's mid-season trade to Los Angeles not only re-energized Kobe and the and the entire Lakers franchise, it also resulted in arguably the best overall play of the Spaniard's career. While Pau's numbers in L.A.—19 points and eight rebounds per game—were virtually the same as his stat line in Memphis, Gasol [...]...

Contact Status: Under contract Perhaps no Lakers player benefited more from Bynum's growth and Gasol's arrival than Lamar Odom. Misplaced as the team's second scoring option behind Bryant for most of his Lakers tenure, the team's suddenly bolstered offensive weapons allowed Lamar to slide into a much more comfortable role as a third scorer. On [...]...