Why Stephen Jackson must keep quiet on Kobe Bryant

October 23 09

Breaking NBA News mixed with analysis ...

My Quick Analysis: I’m guessing Stephen Jackson never heard about Gary Payton’s first meeting with Michael Jordan.

Years back, Payton, then a rookie with the Seattle Supersonics, ran into Jordan at a club the night before an exhibition game against the Chicago Bulls. Never shy, The Glove trash-talked His Airness, who coolly brushed off the young guard’s words.

Jordan took revenge the next night by lighting-up Payton on-court. It seems he had extra motivation from their little run-in the night before at the club.

I think Jackson should consider this story the next time he feels so obliged to speak on Kobe Bryant. You may recall a couple of weeks ago the former Golden State Warriors’ captain recently declared to the world he was Bryant’s equal.

“I’m not a fan of Kobe. I’m not somebody who looks up to him. I’m a grown man myself. So when I go out there and play the game, I play the game. I feel like I’m just as good as him.”

On Wednesday, Jackson’s Warriors met Bryant’s Lakers for the first time since his outlandish comments. While Bryant’s numbers were modest (21 points, five rebounds, and three assists), don’t think the All-World two-guard hasn’t taken note and won’t try to bust-up Jackson each time they meet for the rest of their careers.

Having confidence is fine, but Jackson is now a target. Goading Bryant also complicates his trade demand.

Remember, Jackson asked the Warriors to move him earlier in the summer. On the one hand, potential suitors will appreciate his competitiveness. On the other hand, some teams will be weary of acquiring a player whose competitiveness gets the better of him and too often spills out publicly.

To be fair, Jackson’s confidence is a big reason why he’s such a terrific player. However, it’s in everyone’s interest, especially his own, that he tone-down his public comments.

Sound off: What do you think of Jackson’s comments? Get at us in the opinion box below and follow Oly on HoopsVibe and Twitter. Photo courtesy of Bright Like Neon.

23 Comments: Why Stephen Jackson must keep quiet on Kobe Bryant

Posted by

on 10.26.2009

i am a Huge Kobe fan, but if i were playing in the NBA i would never say someone was better than me. Jackson has the right to say kobe is not better than him .

Posted by
Learn Basketball
on 10.26.2009

hey dumbasses. The Lakers stood at #1 in the West before Gasol was traded that year... at around .700 percentage. are you people just fuckin stupid and talkin s---out of your asses or what? Kobe + bynum put the Lakers on top prior to Gasol’s arrival. Learn your facts. Plus, no team has ever won the Finals with one player, Shaq needed kobe, wade, and now lebron. MJ needed pippen. Yes, lebron got the Cavs to the finals in the retardedly weak East conference, and got SWEPT by the Spurs remember? Kobe haters don’t know shit. .

Posted by
Generic Guy
on 10.26.2009

WOW, at least everyone is polite and sophisticated enough to have a normal debate. It sure would get old if everyone cussed at one another, and never had anything good to say. .

Posted by
ej
on 10.25.2009

why does everyone that comments on here think there home boys from the ghetto.kobe is good real good. so is stephon jackson real good hes in kobes league every starter in the nba is in his league with how he conducts himself on and off the court. f-you is making a point saying kobe was nothing before gasol its true. hes a sook he wants a trade out of l.a coz he cant win? its a game of sport u gona have bad times thats wen u gotta stick it out with what youve got. not winge and wana go somewhere else thats why people disrespect kobe. hes a first ballot hall of famer no doubt probably go down in the top 5 greatest 2 spots of all time. but he has had his career tarnished by off court incidents whereas other great caliber players are known for everything they do on the floor nothing else. stop the argueing your not going to change the other mans mind get over it and enjoy some good rivalry in a game that has become soft .

Posted by
FUCK you , FUCK U!
on 10.24.2009

That f-u guy is a bitch i bet that motherf-----------likes some team that kobe torched so now his pussy a-------is jealous f-u f-u go ride lebrons dick u dont know s---about ball nigga f-u .

Posted by

on 10.24.2009

stop hating on the BLACK MAMBA! He’s too good , thats why you all hating on him .

Posted by
HoopsFanMike
on 10.24.2009

All I have to say to the ignoranus appropriately named ’F— you’ (must be sticking for all the times people must tell you that) saying the Lakers are stacked and Kobe has help, name me a single championship winning NBA team with only one ’star’ player? Unless Pau, Bynum or Odom makes the HOF, the Lakers are a very good team but with only one ’bonafide’ star in Kobe. BTW, even MJ had fellow top-50 all-NBA HOF’er Pippen beside him. I would say you should just stop posting, but it’s pretty funny to see how consumed by Kobe-hate people are, even those ignorant ones like you that don’t know s---’bout the NBA... .

Posted by
HoopsFanMike
on 10.24.2009

Right on Oly. What next, will Stephen Jackson declare himself the ’Kobe-stopper’? Kobe is a great player as it is, but he plays outrageously well when he’s mad. All Jacko is doing is making things tougher on himself, what is he a masochist?I watched all 3 of their preseason matchups, Kobe was lighting him up. Their 2nd game it seemed like he was on a mission to foul out in the 1st qtr, getting 5 fouls in like 10 minutes. I guess that’s better than getting torched by Kobe... .

Posted by
Fuck You
on 10.24.2009

ssup i can you know nothing about bball...you don’t have to have a stacked team to win, when kobe didn’t have s---he hardly made it to the playoffs, even tho these teams didn’t win the finals AI in 01 took his sixers to the finals with basically SHlT eric snow n mutomobo the next best players... and 07 lebron took his team to the fianls with basically SHlT not a fan of either but that shows kobe can’t carry a team unless he has all star lineing up at every postion .

Posted by
ssup
on 10.24.2009

LOL yo "f-You" i can tell u know nothing about basketball and ur just a kobe hater and a dumbass. There is no team in NBA history that won by themselves with the shittiest team possible. You say he can’t win without help? Well no f-----s---einstein, basketball is a team sport. Also, you say "all you kobe dick riders" and then at the end u say "MJ forever" LOL LMFAO. f-----hypocrit lolol u say they dick ride kobe, but you ride MJs dick just as hard. .

Posted by

on 10.24.2009

HAHA DUCK riders you fail man completly no one can take u seriously peace .

Posted by
Snika
on 10.24.2009

lol grandma lolo u may be on kobes DlCK but you defintley dont’ know SHlT about bball then if you don’t know who capt jax is...if you don’t know anyone in the lg thats puts up 20 5 n 5 u def don’t know SHlT then and prolly should just stop watching bball or stop riding his DlCK so hard and realize theres other good players in the lg .

Posted by
Fuck You
on 10.24.2009

ment to say all you kobe dick riders heres the fact he is nothing without help period. hell look at the players he won tittles with shaq enough said and fast foward to 2005 kobe was nothing untill god himself answered kobes prayer and sent pau gasol to la and then guess what the lakes make it to the finals . MJ forever .

Posted by
Fuck You
on 10.24.2009

all you kobe duck riders heres the fact he is nothing without help period. hell look at the players he won tittles with shaq enough said and fast foward to 2005 kobe was nothing untill god himself answered kobes prayer and sent pau gasol to la and then guess what the lakes make it to the finals .

Posted by
The Count
on 10.23.2009

okay okay.... i’ll agree with bluz. phil jackson helped win the championship too. I mean someone has to babysit Kobe Bryant and change his diapers for him. guess that’s why Jackson gets paid so much. .

Posted by
grandma lolo
on 10.23.2009

Kobe is the best ever! I am his number one fan, no kidding. My grandson and I traveled from Cincinnati to see him play in Indianapolis. Didn’t have the money last year! Anyway, we watch all the Laker games and I did not know who this Jackson person was until I read on the internet. Remember that hater Raja Bell? Well, where is his butt right about now? He has had his few minutes of fame. Our Kobe will be around for quite a while. Grandma lolo .

Posted by
a
on 10.23.2009

yea count because kobe did nothing all year to get to the playoffs. Without Kobe lamar is not wide open it is about time he made shots in the clutch. With kobe being doubled all the time. Good Job LO maybe show up again this year instead of your shotgun wedding .

Posted by
Snika
on 10.23.2009

sjxa is an idoit what has he done well lets see im not a fan of either kobe or jax be he did win a championship with the spurs and puts up numbers the last couple years only few do so maybe ur the idiot u should think bout that .

Posted by
bluz
on 10.23.2009

Hey Count, did you see all the games? Lakers didn’t win on Lamar’s shoulders alone, they did it by winning 60+ games last year and then they took it to the competition. They brought it! All of them, a TEAM effort. Hellooo. Don’t let your jealousy of Kobe blind you from the brilliance of his play. He’s the best, just admit it and chill. Don’t forget, Phil Jackson is a major reason they won the championship, he’s the man. I do agree with you that Lamar decided to show up for the finals and his effort helped. Jax needs to keep his mouth shut, bring the competiveness to the game, not to the media. Just sayin’.... .

Posted by

on 10.23.2009

I like it. Kobe is the best, everybody knows this. So what. Take it to him. Let him know that you don’t give a f*** and you aren’t backing down. Also, don’t forget that Jackson and Speedy Claxton were major pieces in winning a championship with San Antonio. They don’t win without these two. Comparable to a Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, James Posey, Sam Cassell, Ron Harper. You put these type of players along side a superstar or two and they will put you over the top. .

1 2 Next >

Post your comment:

No profanity or inaproppriate remarks. All i.p. addresses will be saved and abuse/hate posts will be reported to providers and authorities as part of the anti-spam act of 2003, thank you for posting comments on the articles only.

	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Why Stephen Jackson must keep quiet on Kobe Bryant

AboutOly Sandor

About
Oly Sandor