Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are NBA champions. (AP)
Kobe Bryant jumped and punched the air. He did it again, seven years of pent up frustration freed in a fit of joy. This was the one he wanted more than all the others. The one to top them all. One year after failing miserably in the finals against Boston, Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers found redemption. They finished a season they felt was theirs with a 99-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night in Game 5 to win the 15th NBA title in franchise history.