Kobe Bryant’s Feud With Phil Jackson A Ploy To Speed-Up L.A. Lakers-Chicago Bulls Trade?October 28 07 ESPN.com news services reports on Phil Jackson’s frustration with Kobe Bryant:
"Obviously he hasn’t thrown his heart and soul into performing on the floor. That hurts me a little bit. … He was going to work at this thing and [would] put his full being into this. Right now, he’s having a hard time doing that."
"I think they (his teammates) are a little bit confused. I think they are enjoying their time together right now … But I think there’s a certain sense of how does this all fit all together, which is natural because they haven’t seen a situation like this before." Bryant disagreed: "That [should be] the least of his concerns or anybody’s concerns. You don’t have to worry about that. I’m ready to play. Period. You don’t have to worry about me."
My Quick Take: This is the latest evidence supporting the argument Bryant will be traded-and sooner, rather than later. Bryant has alienated Coach Jackson, his last remaining ally in the Laker organization. Here’s the situation: Zen Master Phil was the last straw, the only prominent member of the purple-and-gold not to sign off on a Bryant trade. The Buss family, out of spite, would have dealt their rebellious star by now.
Bryant knows he’s still a Laker because of Jackson’s diplomacy. And according to published reports, Bryant knows and has even been involved in trade talks between Chicago and Los Angeles.
By alienating his coach, Bryant is knocking down the final domino within the organization and expediting the trade process. After all, the harder things are on-the-court, the faster he gets dealt.
Remember, this is the second training camp tiff between Jackson and Bryant. Last week, following Dr. Buss’ ill-timed comments, Jackson grew tired of his two-guards pouting and refused to even let him ride the exercise bike near the team. In pre-season games, Bryant has looked uninterested, uninspired and depressed.
Accept the inevitable Laker-nation. The curtain is falling on Bryant’s career in Los Angeles. And this Bryant-Jackson dispute, reminiscent of 2002, is just the latest sign.
Is Bryant picking a fight with Jackson to speed-up a trade? Get at us in the comment box with your thoughts.
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Posted by
Kobeforever
on 11.1.2007 | Laker’s management should improve their team to help Kobe to bring more championship to L.A. I don’t think Kobe wanted to leave L.A at the beginning, it is just a reflection of frustration, He wants to get some help to bring championship back to L.A., but Dr. Buss is like a kid too, not really business, it is a personal bark at Kobe when he told the media that he would like to listen to the offers for Kobe. Kobe is still young, did not go to college, so not mature enough. But Dr. buss, with a Dr. degree, 74 years old, behave like a kid???? He will ruin the laker business, he need to sell lakers to somebody who can handle this better. . | Posted by
Deb
on 10.29.2007 | Please don’t get it twisted, it’s Kobe that does not want to be a Laker, but based on the media it looks like the Lakers don’t want Kobe. Lets keep it real on who really wants out.Jerry Buss is a stupid Drunk and needs to sit down somewhere.Good Luck KOBE . | Posted by
Deb
on 10.29.2007 | Phil Jackson is full of S@&%, he is a trouble maker and has you guys fooled. This is Kobe’s major complaint that he is always taking the fall for the bull that goes on in Laker Land. It’s time for the other players to take responsibility in this also as they SUCK , can’t play worth a damn and Lamar is wacked he has not proven himself either, The fans come to see Kobe, they need to stop depending on Kobe and play ball (some are over paid) . Kobe is damn if he do and damn if don’t. The media blows things out of proportion and add their own twist to the story. Let it go and let’s see what happens.There is a double standard when it comes to Kobe, the refs don’t call fouls commited against him and it’s okay for everyone else who is hurt to sit out or not come to a pre-season game, but not Kobe. Kobe has given his heart and soul to the Laker and this is what he gets, everyone talking about him, so who is really being selfish? KOBE #1 Good Luck where ever you are, come back and kick the Lakers Ass . | Posted by
on 10.29.2007 | Karin: Has the writer bashed Kobe? No. He writes on this topic, like most media, because Bryant is the biggest basketball star in the world. Most fans want to know what is up ... . | Posted by
on 10.29.2007 | Why not team Kobe up with Joe Johnson and Al Horford. Atlanta has the cap room to send back to LA along with Josh Smith and Marvin Williams. . | Posted by
Karin
on 10.29.2007 | The Media’s top stories are about Kobe every single one, because they can’t write anything else that is worth printing, and yet they bash Kobe every single time. It is pretty obvious that Kobe is their bread and butter, and yet they print crap like Kobe and Phil feuding, Kobe and Buss feuding, KOBE, KOBE, KOBE, leave the guy alone. I am a Laker and Kobe fan, if Kobe goes, my dedication to the Lakers is gone. Blame that on Kupchak, the Buss’ and the whole front office. If Kobe goes, so does their bread and butter. . | Posted by
Karin
on 10.29.2007 | The Media’s top stories are about Kobe every single one, because they can’t write anything else that is worth printing, and yet they bash Kobe every single time. It is pretty obvious that Kobe is their bread and butter, and yet they print crap like Kobe and Phil fueding, Kobe and Buss fueding, KOBE, KOBE, KOBE, leave the guy alone. I am a Laker and Kobe fan, if Kobe goes, my dedication to the Lakers is gone. Blame that on Kupchak, the Buss’ and the whole front office. If Kobe goes, so does their bread and butter. . | Posted by
the truth
on 10.29.2007 | There is nothing going on between phil and kobe. Most of these so-called bloggers just make up lies to have their stuff read. Kobe might be upset because once again the laker franchise stabbed him in the back. They let him take the fall for shaq being traded,then when everyone agreed that things should be kept quiet,dr drunk buss goes to the media talking stupid again. Phil is aligned with kobe,don’t let the smooth taste fool’ya! If phil thought that kobe was a laker for life,he would have signed his extension by now! Phil knows that bynum will be nothing but a nice player,and phil knows that the lakers have done nothing to surround kobe with the right kind of talent,especially when guys like kidd,artest,boozer,and baron davis wanted to come here. Heck even marion wanted to come and play with kobe! Yet we get smush parker,mihm,and kwame freaking brown! . | Posted by
cjs
on 10.29.2007 | i think andrew bynum should come out with a video demanding that the lakers "ship bryant’s a— out of here". i’m tired of this clown. he is the best player in the league, yet somehow the lakers play better when he’s not on the floor? good riddance. with kobe gone, maybe we can finally start to play real basketball again. . | Posted by
Lakers Guru
on 10.29.2007 | I’m a Lakers Fan, if Kobe goes he goes, but as of right now he is a Laker and the season is coming up that’s my primary focus, as it should be for Kobe, the Lakers and everyone else. It is a non-issue as long as we don’t let it effect us on the court . | Posted by
energy971
on 10.29.2007 | Medias have to talk about kobe hes the best player in the league its not like they were always talkin about toine walker !!! even tough its really boring we have to know whatwill happen to him. And I dont think chicago will sacrifice its best players just for kobe, that sounds pretty stupid . | Posted by
on 10.29.2007 | Yeah this situation will just go away laker fans ... Like when bryant shut his mouth, the owner talked about it ... it just went away yeah right ... . | Posted by
on 10.29.2007 | Laker fans how can you think this is anon-issue? These situations alter the very fabric of your team ...it’s nuts that someone calling themselves a Laker Guru can say that ... . | Posted by
Ready2puk
on 10.29.2007 | Face it LA fans, Kobe will be a Bull soon. The Lakers will probably get Viktor Krypapa and a 2nd rounder in 2008 if the Shaq deal is any guide... . | Posted by
MR. roboto
on 10.28.2007 | PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE JIMBO, JERRY BUSS DONT TRADE KOBE FOR TRASH OR 20 SCRUBS ASK FOR THE BEST IN DA OTHER TEAM, I DONT WANT ANOTHER "SHAQ STYLE" TRADE THIS TIME . | Posted by
Lakers Guru
on 10.28.2007 | I agree with Zen Master Guru 101: If we would all stop talking about this, it would go away. Let’s focus on the games that are about to start. This things we’re discussing are non-issues as far as I’m concerned . | Posted by
ZEN MASTER GURU 101
on 10.28.2007 | I’M TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT KOBE, LET’S FOCUS ON THE ACTUAL GAMES NOW! THE MEDIA IS BLOWING THIS UP. WHATEVER HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN. FOR NOW KOBE IS A LAKER AND HE SHOULD GIVE FULL DEDICATION TO THE LAKERS . | Posted by
alan
on 10.28.2007 | If KB was a team player he would give up 50% of his salary for some support on the court.And I doubt that Jackson knows how to get a team to play defense. . | Posted by
livlife2k
on 10.28.2007 | The Lakers tried to bring back Derek Fisher this year to reminisce about the good old days, but it’s obvious that Kobe’s days are numbered here in La La Land.It’ll be interesting to see how many Laker fans will jump off the band wagon when Kobe leaves. . | Posted by
that one guy
on 10.28.2007 | there’s no arguments here phil is prably the person kobe trusts most besides jerry west. . |
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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 |
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