Kobe forced his way to LA to play.

Fooley

The team had scouted Bryant twice but wanted a private workout to get a better feel for his potential.

"He wouldn't work out with us and that bothered us," Bass said. "We couldn't meet him. His agent was trying to aim him to the Lakers and they threatened us."

The Hornets got the message that if they drafted Bryant, he wouldn't play in Charlotte.

They weren't the only team to be warned off taking Bryant for their own.

The New Jersey Nets, coached by John Calipari, considered Bryant with the eighth pick but chose Villanova's Kerry Kittles after hearing a similar message.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/05/1289903/passing-on-kobe.html#ixzz0v21mtGWE

As you all know, Kobe refused to play for Charlotte, he forced his way to LA. Why would he want to go to LA where he knew another great player was already there in Shaq?