Michael Ventre

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires employers to provide a workplace that is free of serious recognized hazards and is in compliance with government standards.

The National Labor Relations Board, established in 1935, is in charge of, among other things, remedying unfair labor practices.

In addition, there are various human rights and workers’ rights organizations throughout the United States dedicated to protecting the American worker.

So how, in this day and age, can the Los Angeles Lakers get away with blatantly and callously exploiting Kobe Bryant?

Here is a man who shows up every day for his regular shift, only to discover that he not only has to do his work but also the work of 11 other men. And he gets no pay raise for it, no extra coffee break, no additional vacation time or comp days. Granted, he is in the midst of a seven-year, $136 million contract, but fair is fair.

This isn’t exactly Cesar Chavez territory, but clearly the Lakers are overworking Bryant. They send him out there each and every game and tell him to score, rebound, pass, defend and chase down loose balls while his teammates sit in the shade and watch.

As a result, the Lakers are steeped in mediocrity with a 5-7 record, and have conceded the city’s bragging rights to the Clippers. Can bullhorns and picket signs and speeches by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson outside Staples Center be far behind?

Bryant is averaging 34.2 points per contest this season, second in the NBA to Allen Iverson. But he’s leading the league in field-goal attempts at 29.1 per game, almost four more than notoriously trigger-happy Allen Iverson.

More on this story Kobe Bryant's career statistics

Bryant is shooting just 44 percent from the field, and has made 10 of 33 from three-point land. That’s what happens when you’ve been carrying a heavy load by yourself, and your arms and legs get weary, and the rest of your teammates have apparently gone on a wildcat strike.

Not to rehash a now widespread criticism, but the Lakers really didn’t think this through when they got rid of Shaquille O’Neal and handed the keys to Kobe. As brilliant an individual talent as he is, Bryant is useless without help. And right now he’s alarmingly useless, because he has almost no help whatsoever.

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There have been many players throughout NBA annals who have performed one-man shows — Pete Maravich, Dominique Wilkins and Bernard King come to mind — but who didn’t have enough help to contend for a title. Bryant is now in danger of being trapped in this pigeonhole for the rest of his career, because it’s incredibly difficult to build a championship contender and right now the Lakers don’t even have a strong foundation in place.

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