The 2003-04 NBA season was a particularly trying one for Kobe Bryant. Not only was he dealing with the likes of the San Antonio Spurs on the court, but off of it, a sexual assault charge in Colorado took its toll.
Bryant would sometimes spend the day in court in Colorado and the evening on the floor with the Lakers. The previous summer saw L.A. sign Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton, who teamed up with Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal to form a superteam that many expected to win the NBA championship.
However, integrating two new pieces like Malone and Payton wasn’t always easy, and the team took some time to find their footing.