Amid hysterical reports in L.A. that Kobe Bryant had cleaned out his locker, the superstar’s future with the Lakers has reached what could be the final crossroads.
Kobe denied to reporters Tuesday that he’d emptied his locker, and his agent, Rob Pelinka, peddled the notion that Kobe had merely “reorganized” it. Either way, check out Kobe’s demeanor in this video and tell me he looks like someone who a) wants to be a Laker, and b) expects to be one for very much longer.
It’s not clear whether Bryant will play in Thursday night’s preseason game against Seattle after sitting out three straight days of practice. Kobe has either been resting his legs, or if you believe coach Phil Jackson, he’s “OK” and missed practice again Tuesday “by mutual agreement.”
This is getting weird.
“He’s in the training room,” Jackson said. “I think that’s about all I’ll say. He asked me about resting his legs, but I think he’s OK.”
Further confusing the matter, Jackson said he wasn’t sure if Bryant would travel to Bakersfield with the team Thursday if he’s not playing. Asked if Bryant had played his last game as a Laker, Jackson said cryptically, “I don’t know that at all. Who knows that? There’s certain things that have to be discussed and I think they will be. There’s nothing imminent. I’m on the inside of this, so I know all the statements before you ask the questions. We can’t project anything right now. I think there’s a certain progression of things we have to go through.”
Huh? Sounds like Kobe’s days as a Laker are more numbered than they’ve ever been.
When Bryant was asked the same question Tuesday about whether he’s played his last game as a Laker, he responded, “I don’t know, talk to Mitch [Kupchak] and Mr. [Jerry] Buss about that. I’m just getting ready. If I’m here, I’m ready to strap it up.”
After Buss’ comments last week that he’s open to trading his disgruntled superstar, Kobe has apparently resorted to referring to the Lakers’ owner as “Mr. Buss,” instead of the previously respectful “Dr. Buss.”
The Mavericks and Bulls have the inside track on a Kobe trade, which for the first time seems possible before the regular season begins. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that Dallas is Kobe’s No. 1 choice. Bryant holds all the cards because he is the only player in the NBA with a no-trade clause.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban, interviewed during a recent taping of “Dancing With The Stars,” left the door wide open to pursuing the player most consider to be the best in the NBA.
“No one from our organization has talked to Mitch at all about it,” Cuban said. “Kobe is a phenomenal player, and the Mavs have always been opportunistic since the day I bought ‘em. If something were to present itself, we’d always have to explore it, but we have a great team.”
Kobe put out word through intermediaries last week that he’s taken the Knicks off his wish list because of all the turmoil at the Garden. Isiah Thomas has suddenly clammed up about the Kobe situation, but you can bet he’s working it hard behind the scenes.
Comments (19)
Just trade him already. im tired of all this drama. Kobe has been nothing but a me 1st indidivual player since 2004 and a low percentage shooting 1st option. Yes, he will have 40 and 50 point games,but he also has so many games where he shoots 10-35.
Not really. His percentage is actually pretty good for a volume shooter.
Hey Kobe is a lil B i t c h
Remember the Kobe /Ray Allen feud?
Ray Allen predicted this whole situation: Kobe won't win and will ask to be traded.He is such a fool!!!
I mean the guy is pathetic.Who do you think you are? Asking to be surrounded with better talent.Yeah lil' Whiner make people around you better.Look at Caron Butler,he came from being a role player in LA to being an all-star when he was traded to Washington.Start sharing the ball some more ,take it easy on your teammates and be nice.Superstar whatever they mean by that doesn't mean God .Look at Nash: Makes everybody in the Suns locker room like him.You are dying to get another ring just because Shaq got 1 more than you do but gues what? That will never happen again.You are thru ,You are done son! and if you don't clean ur act,you will end up like a bum in the NBA.
I can't wait to boo the s.o.b once he gets traded.Hey and teams who want him don't know what they are getting into.The guy is a pest !!! Snitching on Shaq when he got stopped in CO,calling him fat and s h i t.The guy is trying to rebuild his image but this is just who he is.The Lakers organizatio and fans have been with you all the way.We have been faithful and loving but this is what we get for trusting and lovin somebody like you.I say trade him for Jellybean Bryn. and things will work out fine.
Dallas?
Dirk is german and won't take no s h i t from nobody.And Cuban will straighten your as s up.He sure will not favor you over Dirk.You will never be like Jordan.And guess what? The young stars are much better than u.Read: LeBron .Wade,Anthony ,Bosh ..
hey bizmarkies, i understand that ur mad, and understandably so, but nobody in the NBA is better than Kobe.
I watched Kobe at the Hawaii preseason games and he is a not a legimate percentage shooter , but a streak shooter.
he is " Me First" type player and Dr Buss finally realizes Kobe wont win him a Series title
The lakers looked better with Kobe OUT of the lineup
mark stein is full of it. Kobe's first choice is Chicago all the way. He has a house picked out already in the North Suburbs.
Scotty Skiles won't deal with Kobe. He's too big for the Bulls. In Kobe's defense...he scored 81...when they were down by 18 and he got them the win. Kobe to the Knicks!!!! Please!
I think Buss messed this one up in that ill-timed interview in Hawaii, just as things had been smoothed out. I read where Arenas said he wanted to come and play in L.A. with Kobe. Now that would have been a pretty good backcourt. But no, the DOCTOR had to open his big mouth, after doing nothing to help the Lakers win the past few years. Buss dismantled the Lakers, not Kobe. And now Kobe's gone too. Nice going Buss -- nice way of destroying a great franchise. You might yet out-do the Knicks in that department.
Don't forget Buss is the idiot that traded Caron Butler. That organization has not made one good managerial move in years. No wonder Kobe is pissed, who can blame him.
Yo if Kobe really wanted to prove himself he should go to the knicks....all the egos in that locker room would combine into one big gagglef_ _k and it would actually work in their favor, and we all know its the weakest divison in the league.....
Kobe is a loser. First he destroys the Lakers by chasing Shaq out of town forcing the Lakers to make a bad trade. Now he wants out? What a B I T C H! There are Lakers fans who have enjoyed the winning traditions since the 80's and then there are Faker's fans. Those who started watching the Lakers when Shaq helped them won the three championships. The Fakers are also the ones who love Kobe unconditionally. Wake up Faker's Fan!!! Kobe is a LOSER!!!!!!
As a long time laker fan, since the Magic and Kareem days, I must say that Kobe needs to go. I wouldn't say that he's the best player in the NBA, but maybe the best scorer. To be classified as the best player, he must make everyone around him better and not think "me" first. Therefore, I think it's best that he gets traded, get some young talent in return and slowly but surely start winning again. He's selfish, there's not question about that. I think everyone knows that and I can't picture many team really wanting him.
Here is a suggestion to J. Buss after all the horrible moves he's made: To get equal value for Kobe you can't make a straight-up trade between two teams. You need to make a 28 team trade. Trade Kobe and Farmar for Dirk, Nash, Bibby, Gordon, Loul, Stoudemire, Dwayne, half of VC (the right half), most of TMac, Shaq's arthritic toe (hey we gotta get him involved in this thing coz we don't got not enough drama already, eh?), Boozer, Snoozer, Sneezy, Bashful, Sleepy and MJ (yeah force his butt out of retirement already, he's only done it 3 times). For extra credit, after all those moves, then trade Odom for Kobe while the sucker who got him in the trade has a seizure, which means, whoever you trade Kobe to has to be epilleptic. Got that, Buss??? Good. Now go get the coach off your daughter, Jeanie. Damn. Jackson has got nose hair older than Jeanie.
I read all these comments and I must say most of them are idiotic at best. Kobe is the best all around player in the league, like it or not. Yes, I believe he should be traded as soon as possible. He really doesn't want to be there and eventually it will ruin the team, if it hasn't already. Make the players around him better, first you must start with good players. Name one guy on his team that is a legitimate star. Odom's play is so inconsistant, it makes me want to scream at the television. At least Jordan had Pipen and Rodman and other guys who knew how to play the game. What did Kobe get stuck with? A bunch of players by NBA standards that are below average at best. Not even Jordan or Magic could makes these players better. Having said all that, stop thinking with your emotions and try, just try to think in a logical manner. I hope Kobe does get traded to Dallas, if that happens they win the NBA CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! He will bring much needed toughness to that team. So all you moronic fans who seem to know nothing about basketball keep posting dumb comments and just sit back and watch. Kobe Bryant will win at least one more ring before he's done.
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