Credit @ElginTheGreat for posting the article first here. Kobe just ended any talk of any trade demands. Good for him.
Yeah I'm really glad he stepped up and put his foot down on these silly rumors. That was good of him. I found his comments on Pau's contract really interesting. He must be more plugged in than we thought he was if he knew the offers the Lakers have made. I'm glad he and Mitch and Jim seem to be on the same page. Jeanie too, although there hasn't been much talk about that level this season.
I think Kobe knows he can drive this team and he has players who think like him to play with. This team is going to gel and its going to be lovely.
I love it. Just one of myriad reasons we love Kobe so much. He's all Laker. Huge props to the Mamba for squashing the nonsensical talk. This year is going to be a lot of big time growing pains. The bummer was losing Randle who was such a bright light for us all, including Kobe who was obviously relishing the task and honor of mentoring this talented young kid. Hopefully he will come back next year rarin' to go and we'll get back to it. In the meantime, we are seemingly one good player away from being able to close out some of these games. Maybe that's Swaggy P. Maybe it's Kelley. We seem to need one other player who can get his own in scoring. It'll be a process this year for sure. I'm ok with that with Byron and Kobe at the helm. We just may not win many games, but I'm also fine with that if they are fighting and clawing.
Well you know me! The Optimism thread is a little far in the future for me sooooo I shall spread my optimism everywhere lol
I'm pretty sure Kobe said all this a few years ago after one of our crummy post-Phil seasons (2012, maybe?). He basically said he wasn't going to be that guy who jumps from team to team chasing rings. He said he had his little trade-demand tantrum in 2007 but that he was past that and wouldn't do it again. This whole thing should come as no surprise.
Can't get anymore clear than that, glad to see him step forward and take a stand. Shows confidence in the organization and his teammates.
I am not sure if it shows confidence, but it definitely shows loyalty. Kobe should be a Laker for life. Glad he doesn't want to be traded.
Nicely Done Kobe, I love some of those quotes especially when hes talking to Lakers fans about: Was never worried nor believed it at all about you wanting out.
"I saw them put the work in. It's much different than in 2007 when I felt like they were just sitting on their hands. This is not that case. They were going after it and being aggressive. I will fight for that till the end. They tried, tried and tried and it didn't work out. I stand behind them 110 percent. I bleed purple and gold."
Today he is saying the right things, I'm willing to bet at the end of November with the Lakers at the bottom of the NBA's standings his demeanor and thought process on this matter will have changed dramatically.
Agreed. If kobe had any serious plans, he wouldn't have sign a 48million dollar extension before he had a chance to test free agency this past offseason.
