A lot of people really don't like Kobe Bryant. Maybe it's because of the cocky attitude he displayed during his early years in the NBA. Maybe it's the dismissed rape charges he had to endure back in 2003. Or maybe it's because some blame him for Shaq's exit from the Lakers. But like him or not, you have to respect the man's talent and drive. Kobe is hands down the most competitive player in the NBA and arguably the best basketball player in the league but there is a number of young talent in the NBA that has shown a lot of promise, including Chicago Bulls PG Derrick Rose, with whom Bryant had a brief conversation with following a Lakers victory last month.
Per this story by Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson, when Kobe was asked if the conversation had some type of passing the torch symbolism to it, Bryant had this to offer regarding the question and regarding the all-star:
"Oh, sure, but I ain't passing (expletive)," Bryant said.
Asked if Rose has to come take the torch from Bryant, the Lakers' superstar smiled.
"He can certainly try," Bryant said.
Otherwise, Bryant lauded Rose's development and noted his developing killer instinct.
"I just told him to stay healthy and continue the job he's doing," Bryant said of their November postgame talk. "I don't think you can develop (a killer instinct). You either have it or you don't. He's had it since he was in high school.
"That quality separates players I think. With players of equal ability, it's about the engine you have inside. It certainly gives him an edge."
You can feel the competitive fire of Bryant in the connotation of the response. You can also see that Kobe has kept an eye on the younger players coming into the league trying to take his "juice". That is the mentality of a true winner; knowing your opponents and doing everything you can to stay at the top of your game.
Bryant is 32 and is currently in his 15th season in the NBA. Some say his skills are on the decline as he has a lot of miles on his body but Bryant is still second in the league in scoring and continues to play at an extremely high level. Declining skills? I don't see it that way.
The Lakers play the Bulls tonight in Chicago and the game will be broadcast on ESPN. Should be fun to watch two of the best go at it on a national scale.
-ALR
Is the title of this article a joke? How is Kobe mentoring those young players again? This guy is selfish and only cares about himself.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fraud that Bryant guy is, didn't LeBron grab the so called torch from him 2 years ago?
ReplyDeleteLebron has'nt won a championship. He does'nt deserve to hold anything. Great players, stayed true and loyal to their team cities and BUILT a great team around them. Not run to "stack" a team.
ReplyDeleteYet another reason I don't like Kobe. He's a true classless moron that got talent wasted on him. So many decent people wish to have that kind of talent, but someone like him was one that got it. No matter, it changes nothing about how big a piece of crap he is and will always be until he grows up and learns to live in the real world.
ReplyDeleteHow is winning 5 Titles wasted talent?? U R the MORON!!!
ReplyDeleteKobe rarely passes to his teammates in games, why would he start now by passing the torch?
ReplyDeleteWow, the idiocy of these comments is unfathimable, Kobe is coming off a back to back championship and this guy says the torch was passed to lebron two years ago, shaking my head, kobe is second only to jordan in the 2 guard position ever, and he is still climbing, HATER
ReplyDeletelebron? i dnt thnk so he has'nt have ring yet so how come lebron get that so called torch?.its hard to get 5 rings in 1 3peat back 2 back champs ..you just can't accept that kobe is best than your lebron.!. f miami win the champs this season D-wade will be the MVp not lebron..
ReplyDeleteThose first three titles are Shaq's. Kome is very very fortunate. But of course, with him, it's all about me, me, me, me, me, me... hence, Kome. Shaq was the most dominate and best player in the league at that time. Those titles are his. Kome was just a contributor. In my opinion Pau and Kome has 2 titles. That's all he's got.
ReplyDeleteDid somebody say Kobe is loyal? Same Kobe who went on the Steven A Smith Show to ask for a trade, same Kobe who cheated on his wife and kids, and then stab the Diesel in the back.Yeah he's loyal all right, If Kobe had his ways he would be playing for another team now, but the NBA gave them Gasol for nothing, and the NBA gave them that game 7 last finals. You never hear a teammate say anything bad about LBJ,but Kobe's teammate don't even like him, ask Tyrone Lue, Chuck Atkins, Shaq and plenty of other players what kind of loyal jerk Kobe is. They will tell you.Oh how soon we forget.
ReplyDeletePosting an article with a link to this blog. Saw something interesting. www.RawSports.Yardbarker.com
ReplyDeletehow many did Shaq have before Kobe none he left Orlando with a good squad went to LA and a good suad nothing till Kobe and Phil get there goes to the Heat with Dwade none till Riley comes back you haters need to get you story right and the Stephen smith thing was to get him some help I dont see yi guys bashin lebron for bolting from Cleveland after they went and got him the helpked for
ReplyDeleteSay something bad about the King yu must have missed the paper the oother day Tyrone who Atkins diet man please say somethng bad about the king and you are shipped off you are no longer under the witless program
ReplyDeleteDid Kobe’s Comments RE: Derrick Rose have a Subliminal Message? - Yardbarker http://bit.ly/i8CTUZ
ReplyDeletesome of you guys amaze me with the hater attitude. koby is the best second to koby if everybody got to like me for success than hate me. in other words koby is a champion and hes great at it. winning and will win this year again the heat aint gonna make it out of the first round wishing upon stars boston will see to that. the lakers will be fine come june so for all you sooo called reports just sit back and watch the champs regular season only important to who think there ready but the playoffs two teams boston in the east lakers in the west so please understand two complete teams . spurs, dallas, heat, orlando none dont compare to la and boston
ReplyDeleteLOL a the morons that says Kobe his selfish he,s always the guy that average the most assist in the Lakers go watch leCry and let's the real man to the real fans Kobe his #2 all time and will be #6 in scoring at the end of the year..you call that a waste of talent ?
ReplyDeleteKobe Bryant has been to the finals 7 times and won 5! In his 15th season he's the 2nd leading scorer in the NBA and the MVP on a team picked to win again!! Pass the tourch to who?!! Kobe haters kill me...freakin' jokes!
ReplyDeletekobe is the best next to jordan and lakers will be alright to all u laker haters U WISH U WERE KOBE!!!!!
ReplyDeletequeen james... lol
ReplyDelete