Definitely one of my favourites, the commentary as well: "KOBE BRYANT!!! WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE!!" Classic.
Wishing injury on any player is sad and distasteful, let alone on a Laker legend that has carried us for 2 decades. I'm as frustrated with Kobe as anyone here but that takes it to another level.
Agreed, but who has the balls to say anything and for Kobe to actually listen? Won't be anyone who's ever been a Laker. I'm sure Magic thinks his boy Scott is a COY candidate. MJ? That's the only player voice who I think could get him to listen to such advice at this point. But then how's that going to come about? I'm not sure MJ is just going to volunteer that, even though they talk from time to time, or that he would ever suggest that because he's of the same cloth...he just wasn't costing him team dearly during his farewell tour. And Kobe's not about to admit he's wrong and go to MJ on this particular matter. Phil? Maybe. But not with Kobe s***ting on their ugly version of his offense in NY. Don't see Phil doing us any favors at this point, not even Kobe.
I don't even think MJ could tell Kobe anything. Kobe would probably take it as a challenge and go "I'll show you old man, I'm still better than you were". Phil, maybe if he was on the bench right now and could physically pull Kobe from games when he started chucking threes, but not from texting him anything.
I have a working theory..... Kobe is shooting 3's REALLY WELL in practice, and he's just sure that as he gets his legs that they will starting falling in games. He will have then reinvented himself once again as a sniper from long range that can occasionally do other things too. It's all I got. I don't like any of the alternatives of either he sucks, he's done, needs to retire, hard headed, myopic, or anything else. I don't want any of them to be true. Kobe, please don't burst my bubble. Figure this thing out quickly!
Preach. Whether some people want to admit it or not, some people have forgotten how many good things Kobe has done for this Lakers franchise in his career because of how horrid he has been this year. DO NOT FORGET
I'm sure most can agree too and taking how bad Kobe has been on the court, I can definitely say this will be his last year. There is too much writting on the wall. The things Kobe is saying to the media before and after playing in Brooklyn and then The Garden. The extra camera guys Kobe has hired to document this year as was alluded to in the Howard Beck story. Another sign is just how at peace he is with everything. He's smiling more than ever, giving players hugs during and after the game. Gone are the days of in game rage that ignites a scoring fury. The light is not down the hall or around the corner, its all around Kobe now and all he needs to do is let go. And he will after this year. Even when he was telling the media he sucked he had a goofy frown on his face that looked like he wanted to "I know this is it, I'm going what I can". As terrible as his performances, dumb threes, and at times stunting our players growth I've tried to after every game say a quite "Thank You". Another game I get to watch a Lakers legend, because if I don't enjoy what I can of this hero of mine, when he's long gone I'm going to be bummed that I threw tantrums during his last year instead of remembering what he has done. Just some of my thoughts so far this year.
Great post. I agree with everything, especially the part about him being at peace and not raging. Just imagine if we could somehow have a 17 year old Kobe freakin' Bryant again. My goodness... I'd watch every laker game for 2 decades just to watch this guy play.
I would also like to say, some people on here forget how good he was that year he tore his Achilles. Saying things like "he hasn't been good since Howard came to the Lakers" is also diminishing the fact that he carried us to the playoffs that year.
He had a great season and is at worst the 2nd best Laker ever , nobody forgot it ... I just don't like living in the past . Our franchise is in a very TOUGH place for three seasons with clueless people at the top ...and a laughable coach Kobe playing like the 2nd coming of Dion Waiters and JR Smith won't help our young players on the court. He should lead by example and give some credibility to our team instead of heavily contributing to this sad mess
Typical angry reaction from each side. No one is serious in hoping Kobe gets injured, that's just frustration from these whole fiasco. I prepared myself for this last two years retirement run knowing that it would be bad but now that it's here, Ouch! really don't think it would be this bad lol.