EL SEGUNDO — Team USA winning the gold medal was a big one. Here’s another one for everyone stateside — and especially Lakers fans sweating Kobe Bryant’s option to terminate his Lakers contract at season’s end: Bryant has no intention of jumping to Europe and playing there.
He tried today to downplay that storyline from the Olympics when he said he would consider leaving the NBA if an overseas team was willing to pay him “$50 million.” He explained that he had told LeBron James before they did a joint Team USA news conference that Bryant would jump in and take any “controversial” questions so as to help the younger James out.
The playing-overseas scenario fit that mold, according to Bryant, so he answered first to spare Nike brother James, whose eventual departure from small-market Cleveland has been the subject of widespread speculation.
“Somebody throws us this question about playing overseas,” Bryant said. “I don’t want him to answer it. He’s a young kid; I don’t want him to take the controversial stuff. I said, ‘Well, if a team throws us $50 million, then we’ll all go.’ Who the hell has $50 million? …
“It’s just something that was a joke for us, and people took it and ran with it or whatever. That’s fine. Everybody needs to banter about something.”
Ha! I love Kobe, but I really don’t think he was kidding.
Geez, how thoughtful of Bryant to step in to take “controversial questions”.
Again, another mind boggling gesture from Bryant.
James has been in the league for quite some time. James needs no advice or lessons from Kobe in regards to this matter.
Bryant’s the one that needs to take some PR lessons from James. James has a squeaky clean image. That’s why he’s been tabbed by major corporations to be the “face” of their products.
Bryant, on the other hand, has never been accused of being a great teammate during the Shaq years.
Let’s not forget about Colorado.
Let’s not forget about putting his teammates, especially Bynum on blast in a parking lot.
I saw Bynum today at the media session.
Let’s just say Kobe would be knocked out if he tried to punk Drew like that again.
Bynum is cut, huge, and lean.
The future is staring Kobe in the face.
Let’s see if he’s as gracious as Shaq to acknowledge it.
-Jeffs Aho
Jeffs Aho,
I am sick and tired of you bad mouthing Kobe, screw you and your stupid comments, you’re such a loser, you’re a very bitter bitter boy. Have you got a full time job or something more useful to do with your time than finding every little thing to pick on Kobe.
Jeffs, you are the only hater who follows Kobe Bryant wherever he goes…
The more you hate , the more you love hahahaha
Let’s forget about Jeffs Aho.
lame!
What’s a Jeffs? Don’t let that angry fellow get to you. It’s just jealousy rearing its ugly face once again. Does anyone seriously read his waste of time posts anymore? Kobe, baby.