2006–07 Los Angeles Lakers season

Ultimately, even though team captain Bryant was the leading NBA scorer with 31.6 PPG, the Lakers were defeated in five games by the Suns.

Los Angeles also traded their 51st pick (Cheick Samb) to the Detroit Pistons for SF Maurice Evans.

Kobe Bryant, the reigning scoring champion had successful surgery on his knee and would decline playing for Team USA at the 2006 World Championship, where they finished 3rd, with bronze.

[1] Center Chris Mihm, who was the starting big man before having an ankle injury, also underwent successful surgery and was not expected to play at all in the upcoming season.

[2] The Lakers started their season opener hosting the Phoenix Suns, the team who knocked them out of the playoffs.

The next night at Oracle Arena against the Golden State Warriors, Odom had stats, almost recording his first triple-double of the season, 22 points with nine rebounds and nine assists.

In their most notable move, L.A. signed three-point specialist PF Vladimir Radmanović to a five year/$31 million contract from cross-town rivals Clippers.

[8] Devean George, who won three titles with the Lakers in the early 2000s declined FA and signed with the Mavericks, leaving Bryant the remaining player from the glory days.