Kobe naturally hopes Zhang Yang will become his successor. He wants to win another championship, and although he won't admit it openly, he knows clearly that with Howard gone, if Zhang Yang doesn't stay, he will have no more chances to win a title in his later career. When Zhang Yang decided to renew his contract, Kobe put on his leather jacket and played bass, singing loudly for quite some time at home.
He just wanted some sense of 'power transition' ceremony.
Is there any point to this? There actually is!
If there isn't that process, Kobe fans would still be happy Zhang Yang stayed, but there will always be some people dissatisfied with Kobe returning from injury and becoming second. Zhang Yang defeated Kobe in direct competition to take over as the top spot, with Kobe moving to No. 2. Kobe fans greatly increased their recognition of Zhang Yang, seeing this as a kind of Sky Hook, Magician type of heritage... Most Kobe fans also hold 'old school' thoughts.
