How Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant Played a Role in Dodgers Landing Shohei Ohtani

We know two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is now a member of the Dodgers, but we don’t know everything that went into his contract negotiations. Slowly but surely, details have emerged about his back-and-forth with the Dodgers.

In one of their recruitment pitches, the Dodgers reportedly showed Ohtani a six-year-old video. The featured speaker? Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who encouraged Ohtani to join the Dodgers’ organization.

Ohtani said seeing the video was one of the highlights of the entire meeting. He looked up to Bryant’s desire to be great and win, so seeing this helped him know that the Dodgers were the right choice for him:

The spirit of the late Bryant still lives on in and around Los Angeles. His role in recruiting Ohtani offers further evidence of how Bryant is the most iconic athlete the city has seen. His impact knows no bounds. Nearly four years after his death, Bryant was a key reason the Dodgers were able to land the biggest free agent in sports history.

Ohtani is perhaps among few people who can understand the mindset that Bryant possessed during his peak with the Lakers. In a video shot when Ohtani was first declared a free agent by MLB in 2017, Bryant reportedly pitched to Ohtani that winning in Los Angeles is unlike winning anywhere else. Ohtani’s introductory press conference Thursday offered many reminders of his desire to win at the highest level.

If Ohtani can lift the Dodgers to new heights, he will be seen as one of the more influential players in the city’s history too. The Dodgers haven’t won a full-season World Series since 1988, and the fans are eager for a parade.

Recruiting Ohtani adds one more chapter to the legend of Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately he isn’t here to see Ohtani play, but his impact remains as strong as ever.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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