OT: Henry Abbott takes a massive dump on Kobe Bryant

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/sto...obe-bryant-reason-los-angeles-lakers-downfall

IF ONE COMMON denominator has persisted throughout Bryant's tenure with the Lakers, it is this: The blame lands elsewhere, and usually with teammates. O'Neal -- at times a mentor to Bryant, at other times freestyle-rapping to a packed club in Manhattan, "Yo, Kobe, tell me how my ass taste" -- is one in a long line of Bryant's teammates who've struggled to stick to a single script in describing the singular man. Bynum, Gasol and Howard have each been at turns coy, reticent, warm or biting. And, in turn, each has taken massive doses of blame in the media without Bryant meaningfully coming to their rescue.

"I'VE HAD A LOT OF CLIENTS WHO DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY WITH KOBE."
- PROMINENT NBA AGENT
"I've had a lot of clients in the last five years, good players, who didn't want to play with Kobe," says an agent who has had numerous NBA stars. "They see that his teammates become the chronic public whipping boys. Anyone who could possibly challenge Kobe for the spotlight ends up becoming a pincushion for the media. Even Shaq."

Sometimes the words come straight from Bryant's mouth, like when Bryant told Jim Gray in 2003 that O'Neal -- a perennial MVP candidate and repeat champion -- was "fat and out of shape" and intimated that Shaq threatened to play defense only when the offense suited him. More often, Bryant sidekicks have been assailed by stories attributed to "sources" on the team. Bryant-as-truth-teller is how it's typically framed, but few around the NBA see it that way. More common is the assessment that he undermines anyone who threatens his supremacy. One Lakers insider remembers a time in 2012 when Bynum -- about a year after declaring that the Lakers had on-court "trust issues" -- was due for a contract extension: "Andrew's question in contract talks was: 'How are you going to rein in Kobe?' We couldn't give direct answers. My immediate thought was, Well, he doesn't want to play with Kobe if we can't answer that question."

"I just never felt like the Lakers put as much effort into the building-the-team part of it," says an agent who once had a free agent decline a Lakers offer. "I saw some things in the players' parking lot. Conversations between Bynum and his people and some people with the Lakers. It got pretty rough and heated."

"It's horrendous. It's evil. It's a hard drug to quit when you're winning," says a front office executive from a rival team who knows everyone involved well. "Kobe has cost the Lakers dearly in human capital. Kobe has hurt a lot of people. In some cases jeopardized careers."

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Kobe being Kobe.

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/10/20/kobe-bryant-julius-randle-lakers-rookie-los-angeles

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant made some pointed comments about rookie Julius Randle following the team's 98-81 preseason victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

Bryant was asked about how he and new coach Byron Scott "getting on" Randle would affect his development. From Lakers Nation:

“It means he can’t f--- up,” Bryant said. “I mean, seriously. You f--- this up, you’re, I mean … You’re a really big idiot. You know what I mean? ESPN are idiots, but then you’re a really big idiot if you manage to f--- this up.”

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

What he said was so true... The media never blames Kobe, ever.

 

[BlazerWookee]

What he said was so true... The media never blames Kobe, ever.

And that's K*be's fault how?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

And that's K*be's fault how?

He is obviously a reptilian overlord using his mind control powers on our media... I'm on to that fucker!

 

[BrianFromWA]

This seemed appropriate.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Watching the Lakers struggle is going to be fun this year. Hopefully Kobe does not get hurt again.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Watching the Lakers struggle is going to be fun this year. Hopefully Kobe does not get hurt again.

I seriously cannot wait until nick young takes more shots than Kobe

 

[BrianFromWA]

I seriously cannot wait until nick young takes more shots than Kobe

I think I know how that would end.

 

[Run BJM]

I don't question Kobe's epic assholiness, but Shaq WAS a fat arrogant prick in 03 and they were supposed to be perennial contenders. That would make me pretty fugging pissed if I was his teammate. I'm sure Andrew Bynum deserved a lot of what Kobe dished out too.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I read that earlier today, pretty brutal. I have a feeling Kobe doesn't really care about winning at this point though. He's all about CTC and moving up the career points list. So dissuading big free agents from signing there kinda works for his goals

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I read that earlier today, pretty brutal. I have a feeling Kobe doesn't really care about winning at this point though. He's all about CTC and moving up the career points list. So dissuading big free agents from signing there kinda works for his goals

How far is he away from kareem?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

6500 ish. He prolly wants to pass Karl Malone at least for fucking his wife.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Dude needs to average almost 40 a night for the next two years to catch kareem.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Yeah not gonna happen. Could totally see him going to the Sixer's for a few years at the vet min. Still ain't gonna happen. Like I said, he will try and pass Malone at least.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Still needs just under 32 a night for the next two years to pass Malone. He will pass MJ though, even if it took him like 5+ more years.

Side note, LeBron will Crack the top 15-20 potentially this season.

 

[riverman]

It's really fun watching Kobe start his decline and end his career on what could be the worst team in the West all the while sucking their cap room dry and being surrounded with yes men. Kobe was right about Shaq being fat and lazy though. He was, especially the 1st half of the regular season. Shaq only wanted to bring it come playoff time. Kobe will end up getting 25 pts a night and losing more than he's ever lost in his career now while laughing all the way to the bank

 

[MARIS61]

He's a rapist.

The rest is inconsequential.

 

[santeesioux]

I imagine Lakersground enjoyed this article.