Jahlil Okafor on Kobe Bryant: "It's different. It's just different. I've played against LeBron James twice, you see KD (Kevin Durant) but when you see Kobe it's just a different feel. I was in the weight room stretching and he walks in. It was like you're seeing like a God kind of in a sense. For me that was my Michael Jordan. That was somebody that I always watched. You see him score 81 points, you see him win championships and I was always rooting for him to win, so it was surreal to see him."
Seems like a nice enough kid. Now if he limits his propensity for hitting people in the streets and alcoholic binges, he'll turn out alright.
He did say in the quick on court interview that his legs felt great actually. He'd been working on them doing extra running. ...... and said Byron told him to get ready for 40 minutes a night since it's his last go round.
I thought it was really cool when Russ and JC told the media in the locker room after the game that Kobe actually called the play ahead of time and knew that Wall was going to pass it out to Beal and made sure Lou was right with him. Russ was a little memorized how Kobe knew that and then it actually happened exactly has Kobe predicted. All those years studying the film and knowing player tendencies will do that to you Russ.
I'm torn to be honest. On the one hand I'm happy as hell for Kobe, he should have more games like this one in his last season. On the other hand, this might make him believe he can do it on daily basis and become even more trigger happy (if that's even possible). Either way, that was absolutely great
Agreed, realdeal. We should cherish these nights when Kobe puts it on, bc they might be few and far bewteen. As much as we dislike Steve Nash around these parts, he had a pretty telling quote in an interview in his last year here. I don't remember it fully, but he basically said that he's capable of playing one high-level game per week, but for the other 2-3 games in that week? Not so much.
that game really took me back. been a while since we saw that kobe hoping we get to see that at least a handful more times during this lost season
Saw the game, came back and read your post. Permanent damage? Beating them to a pulp? Overreacting much? Yeah, he's done permanent damage to Randle and DAR. The chucking from the previous game has lead to Randle (15/19) and DAR (13/4/3/4) posting garbage career numbers. They are damaged goods and never recovering. Your analogy is horrible tbh. The rookies look up to Kobe and they are learning so much from him. They are developing regardless of Kobe's performance in the game. He is a net positive in terms of influence to our young core. The disrespect towards Kobe is mind-boggling. Some of you are acting like he's a cancer to this franchise, and that's just sad man. I'm going to cherish every moment of Kobe this season; through both his good and bad games.
Yeah, that's just a little over the top there Savory. I get it, trust me. No NBA player should be launching 17 threes in a game. But the permanent damage talk I wouldn't go that far.
There was a post from JC talking about the influence Kobe had on him... I am with @tada on this one. Even if Kobe chucks, he still teaches them all the time. You can see it during timeouts, FTs, on the bench...