As the seconds ticked down and Kobe Bryant’s seven-year odyssey for another NBA Championship concluded, one couldn’t help but be curious as to what his celebratory pose would look like after the final buzzer.

Given the individual impact this ring would have on Bryant’s NBA legacy, and given how singular his drive has been throughout his pursuit for another title, it would seem fitting that Bryant would be solitary in triumph.

If he could now been seen to stand alone metaphorically, to rise above any generational rival, and lay claim to the mountaintop without Shaquille O’Neal, surely he would strike a pose of singular defiance.

If his 13-year career has taught us anything about Bryant though, it’s that things are not often as we might expect. That is why it shouldn’t have been quite as fascinating as seemed that Bryant’s unaccompanied pose never materialized. In its place was a mass group-hug with the entirety of the Lakers’ roster. Rather than stand alone, Bryant engulfed himself in the arms of his teammates.

Imagine that.

In its own way, that moment was representative of where Bryant had arrived to in achieving this destination. He only found that fourth championship once he fused together with his teammates and submitted to the idea that he needed their help to realize his goals.

It was through unity, not stubborn and youthful defiance, that he regained his place at the mountaintop of his sport.

The Lakers then found this destination, the franchise’s 15th championship, together.

The strength of their fellowship could be seen all series, and all season long and it was epitomized best by the 16-0 run in the second quarter of Game 5 that essentially put the Magic to bed and seized complete control of the game. Fittingly, it was Bryant’s passing (three assists compared to only two points) that propelled that run, not his scoring.

The fact that Bryant’s best performance of the series came during the blowout that was Game 1 masks how awesome a Finals performance he had. Indeed, on raw numbers alone this was one of the great statistical performances in NBA championship history, with his 32.4 points and 7.4 assists serving as the highest combination of those two key measures since Bryant’s mentor, the great Jerry West, averaged 37.9 points and 7.4 assists 40 years ago.

Make no mistake though: Bryant didn’t win his redemption by outgunning Orlando and he didn’t do it by himself. Instead it was Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, and Derek Fisher that secured it for him and who at times were forced to carry the day.

And it was his coach, the immortal Phil Jackson, who oversaw it all.

Jackson, he of 10 rings, he of the most playoff wins in history, he of the greatest winning percentage in both the regular and post-season, put the final jewel in the crown that is his legacy as the greatest coach in NBA history.

The Zen Master has 10 titles in 18 seasons behind the bench, one more than Red Auerbach and eight more than his mentor, Red Holzman. Critics have often cited that between Bryant, O’Neal and Michael Jordan, Jackson has had the best possible talent at his disposal and while that is not debatable, it is the measure of any coach as to whether or not he maximizes the potential of the talent he has. This is precisely what Jackson has done and for that he should be applauded.

In that joyful chaos on the floor after the final horn, Jackson and Bryant found one another for a long, heartfelt hug. These two have been through a great deal together and came out the other side as strong allies, a fact made clear by the expression of appreciation they both shared for one another.

Unlike during Jackson and Bryant’s previous two trips to the NBA greatest stage, the Lakers would not underestimate their opponent (as they did against Detroit in 2004) or be overwhelmed by their passion and drive (as they were by Boston just last season). This time, Los Angeles knew how dangerous an opponent they faced in Orlando, and further, were sure to match their intensity blow for blow over a tough-fought five games.

As a result of their communal focus on this one goal, Los Angeles has a parade to organize for the first time in seven years. Surely that celebratory route will mirror the Lakers’ ascent itself: full of stops and starts, congested, loud, dramatic, and strangely familiar.

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