Kobe, Phil and Lakers finish long journey to No. 15

ORLANDO -- The end came swiftly and, perhaps, it's just the beginning.

Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers completed a journey longer than a season in the making, securing the 15th championship in the franchise's celebrated history Sunday night. The Lakers dismantled the upstart Magic in a Game 5 devoid of drama but not lacking for intrigue.

For a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer with three titles already imprinted on his resume, Kobe somehow needed this 99-86 victory to answer all those questions about his legacy. He shrugged them off throughout the Playoffs, much as his coach did, keeping an almost grim disposition before, after and during games.

The smiles cracked through the stone-cold façade as the fourth-quarter clock closed in on oblivion. And when the buzzer sounded, the pent-up emotion burst in a wave of uncensored joy. The first-time Finals MVP bounced and pumped and hugged it out with his teammates.

Kevin Garnett bellowed "What can you say now?" after denying Bryant and the Lakers last June. Kobe's retort to the "critics" isn't quite as lyrical, but even more pointed.

Lakers Win 15th NBA Championship • Game info | Box score | Recap | Game 5 photos • GARCIA: Kobe, Phil and Lakers finish long journey • PETERSON: Lakers don't win 15th title without Gasol • McMENAMIN: Kobe leads ... and the Lakers follow • BLINEBURY: 24-second thoughts from Game 5 • SCHUHMANN: What will Magic gain from Finals loss? • VIDEOS: Highlights | Trophy presentation | Kobe wins MVP Celebrations: Kobe | Lakers | No. 10 for Phil Postgame: Kobe | Gasol and Odom | Howard All-Access: Bryant | Fisher | Odom | Jackson All-Access: Bynum | Walton | Ariza | Gasol The Ahmad interview: Inside look at Kobe • PHOTO GALLERIES: :: Game 5 | Magic fans | Lakers celebrate | Portraits • Buy your Lakers championship gear!

"I don't have to hear that criticism, the idiotic criticism any more," Bryant said after accepting the MVP trophy, newly-christened after Bill Russell. "That's the biggest thing. I don't have to hear that stuff anymore."

Phil Jackson became the Ten Master. Seven years after catching Red Auerbach and after two previous unfulfilled trips to The Finals, the Lakers spiritual guru finally bagged the title to separate himself in the debate from every other coaching giant.

"You look at the guy's record," Orlando adversary Stan Van Gundy gushed. "It's undeniable."

Jackson owns career symmetry in not one, but two spots. He went double threepeat in Chicago, wrapping the championships around Jordan's dalliance with baseball. The L.A. story featured considerably more spectacle after the Lakers' 2000-02 run. Revolution followed Philip's No. 9. Much like MJ, Jackson stepped away from the game, ripped Kobe in print, only to return. The kingpin of the first three Los Angeles titles, Shaquille O'Neal, was also shown the door.

The Lakers, of course, rebuilt. Franchises of their ilk don't stay in the gutter for long. So if Jackson decides to spend the rest of his days hunkered down on his Montana ranch, who can blame him? What else is there to do or prove? He's talked about reaching this personal milestone on occasion, hinting of its significance, and promised to smoke a cigar for Red.

Wearing a yellow cap emblazoned with "X," the Roman numeral for 10, during the Larry O'Brien Trophy presentation, Jackson didn't need to play coy anymore.

"Having won 10 championships is a remarkable accomplishment, there's no doubt about it," he said before thinking back to all the championships over the years.

Kobe inched ahead of Shaq by tying his former L.A. costar in the jewelry department. The All-Star co-MVPs share a connection not based on friendship, but on their standing within the game. Each owns four titles, with one without the other. Mamba's fourth carries a little more weight.

O'Neal didn't just piggyback his way to the NBA mountaintop in 2006, yet the Diesel rode in the sidecar as D-Wade's legend was born. Kobe, at long last, powered the bus to the fourth title for the Team of the Decade. He didn't do it alone, as Pau Gasol made for a worthy No. 2, just as Shaq did in Miami. Kobe relished and used his cohorts as never before.

"Got a new point guard, got a new wing, got a Spaniard and then it was all good," Bryant said. "It was all good. I had a bunch of Christmas presents that came early."

Kobe, 30, worked harder in the Finals than any other time in the Playoffs, commending Mickael Pietrus for making him work. Bryant didn't dominate these Finals as much as control them. His stroke waned at times, especially after Game 1. Still, the final averages read: 32.4 points, 7.2 assists and 5.6 rebounds. He blocked four shots in Game 5.

The Magic exit with a bright future and aware of the opening they couldn't squeeze through. A blown layup at the buzzer here, a Van Gundy misstep there will stay with the organization long after everyone filtered out of Amway Arena.

Orlando could be at the start of long run of title-contending years with Dwight Howard at the center -- on and off the hardwood. But folks in these parts thought the same a decade-and-a-half ago when another Superman roamed the lane. Remember how that turned out?

Shaq left Isleworth for Hollywood, jumpstarting the Lakers' return to prominence. Orlando went middle of the road over the next seven years before going lottery. Dwight arrived in 2004 and the steady climb began, culminating in an electrifying postseason run that eliminated the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference.

But getting here now is no guarantee of getting here again. Hedo Turkoglu could be a free agent. All indications point to a return, but a deal would still have to get done. The Jameer Nelson-Rafer Alston situation has to be figured out. Though he figures to be on the trading block, Alston said he wants to return as Nelson's backup. And don't forget LeBron, wherever he eventually lands, and the Celtics in the East hierarchy.

"The only thing you can do is look back on the season," Howard said, "look back on what we did as a team, personally look at what I did, just try to come back next year with the same fire and try to accomplish our goal."

The Lakers' latest title restored their standing as the premier franchise in the history of the NBA. For those who counter with Boston as top of the pops, let's examine the numbers. Sure, the Celtics have an undeniable 17 titles in 20 trips to The Finals.

Go beyond that "17-3" record and what it really means is three second-place finishes for Boston. The Lakers have been runner-up 15 times. So the Lakers have claimed first or second on 30 occasions -- 10 more than the Celtics. That's a longer run of consistency. And since Magic and Bird rescued the NBA, the Lakers have pocketed nine trophies. Boston, four.

The Lakers have their issues to deal with this summer, most notably the impending free agency of Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. Whether they're about to begin another dynastic run -- Derek Fisher is the only Laker older than Kobe -- wasn't on No. 24's mind as he beamed on and on.

"Just vacation," Kobe said. "Cabo. Yeah, stuff like that. When next season comes around, we'll go from there. We'll be ready to go again. That's for sure."

And it begins again.

Art Garcia is covering The NBA Finals for NBA.com. If you have a question or comment, send him an e-mail.