Ticked at Kobe Malone might not return to L.A.

KingKong · Dec 8, 2004

My whole take on it really is that what Kobe said was blown way out of proportion by the media, fans and Malone's agent. I think Malone has been looking for a way out and he just found his chance by using what Kobe said as an excuse to get out of La La land. I really don't think Kobe is a bad guy at all, misunderstood..... terribly. It really all is speculation at this point. But if Kobe wants to win I think they need a tough, experieced veteran player like Malone and Kobe may need to do some damage control to soothe Malone's feelings (even if they aren't really hurt), even if his comments weren't meant to be derogatory.

Lamar_Odom · Dec 8, 2004

VF21 said:

It's obvious how it could be affecting the play of the Lakers with what was, an impending return of Karl Malone. That left players in doubt whether they would be traded or cut. Kobe was just sticking out for his teammates and he's being knocked for it. If he stood out for Karl, I'm sure he'd get the blame too.

As far as the me thing, Kobe is the leader, and he is being followed with a 110% effort from his teammates. I see nothing wrong with that one either.

The only thing I fault Kobe was not addressing the fact that being part of the Lakers is a continual effort and if they don't keep it up, they could get run down by the competition, and that includes Malone coming back. That to me would be a better statement. It looks like Kobe wasn't prepared to speak and he got blind-sided by his comments.

Evilmav2 · Dec 8, 2004

I wonder how long it's going to take for Kobe to decide that Lamar Odom isn't giving him 110%? I also wonder, just how long Odom will remain in the purple and gold if that unfortunate day comes to pass?

For that matter, how long is it going to take before Kobe gets tired of sharing the spotlight with Chris Mihm or Brian Cook? If the Laker's organization continues to leave the keys to the kingdom in the young Sun King's well-manicured hands, will any non-sycophantic Laker teammates ever be safe in knowing that they won't be traded or cut at such said King Kobe's whim?

Sadly for the Laker faithful, I wouldn't imagine so...

Lamar_Odom · Dec 8, 2004

You're being unreasonably too presumptous.

Insomniacal Fan · Dec 8, 2004

I believe Kobe is arrogant, and insecure. But I agree with King Kong in that I believe Karl was looking for a way out. At this point in his career, he's just looking for enough points to polish off Kareem's record, and I can only see him coming off the bench in LA.

Geoff · Dec 8, 2004

Bricklayer said:

For who? Everyone else?

The only reason we shouldn't try to get him is because we have the PF position well-stocked, and even though we wouldn't drop Songaila for Malone, he will still be terrific addition to whatever team picks him up. You don't turn down the league's second-all time scorer when you can get him at a bargain unless you really don't need someone new at that position.

Lamar_Odom · Dec 8, 2004

Malone is a free agent and will sign for the minimum for whatever team he wants.

JayBird · Dec 8, 2004

Geoff said:

Maybe so, but turning down a 41 year old, way past his prime, with a bum knee, sounds like a no-brainer, even at bargain price.

RaY Z · Dec 8, 2004

i hate kobe sooooooooooo much.... his such an arrogant asswipe..... he rekons his as good as mj.... mj kicks his butt any day..... although he might average the amount of points mj did, mj's fg peercentage was alot higher over .500 in fact, while kobe is at .400...

shacko · Dec 8, 2004

Heuge said:

LOL. Not sure but it is funny

Now no one can take credit for any thing that is going to happen but kobe.......... He ran off Shaq, Pjax,Gp and Fish................ He will get his numbers and his credit....... But that will be about it..........

One good part of the deal he has Vladie the perpetual nice guy to give him props in the press.................

Lamar_Odom · Dec 8, 2004

Shaq wanted a ridiculous extension and with the kind of numbers he is currently producing, I'd say the Lakers made a good decision.

As far as Jackson, the Laker owner Jerry Buss wanted a different brand of basketball that Jackson does not provide. Jackson's purpose was served, they moved on.

As far as GP, the Lakers got Mihm, Atkins, and Jumaine Jones for one aging veteran while getting rid of Rick Fox. Combined, the three players easily out produce what they gave. A no brainer from hindsight.

And Fisher? He went for the money, just like Vlade. You can't blame him.

So, what's your point, Shaq?

*Serbprincess* · Dec 8, 2004

i knew he was cocky but now we have prooff...

KP · Dec 8, 2004

Kobe 40 FG% Bryant

So Kobe "bean" Bryant is a bad teamate, and the biggest jerk in the NBA... what's the big revalation? Even D-fish, Horry, and that other idiot Fox said they took Shaqs side before they left. He's now alienated almost every good player thats ever played with him, and his 9 time championship winning coach! Not to mention the rest of the league.. What a creep! Look he's def one of the best players in the league right now, and I know I'm a Kings fan, but how anyone can continue to stick up for this guy is beyond me...

Padrino · Dec 8, 2004

#1 Sac Fan said:

isnt it kinda funny how shaq ends up the good guy in all this?!

VF21 · Dec 8, 2004

Lamar Odom - So all the team is nervous because a PF might be returning? Please. Which one of those guys who might actually be affected wouldn't give quite a bit to come off the bench behind Karl Malone???

Evilmav2 said:

Well said!

Lamar_Odom · Dec 10, 2004

VF21 said:

Let's just say, I think you're missing the point.

gocmen · Dec 10, 2004

Though I don't like Kobe, I don't like Malone even more. He is the only reason why I hate the Jazz. He left Jazz a year ago and now Okur joined there but somehow when I still hear the words "Utah Jazz", I can only remember his ugly face.

So, I may be biased (actually I am biased), but Malone is a big baby like Kobe and he is 15 years older than him. He left Utah just to win a ring. He couldn't do that in Lakers. Then after seeing Shaq leave, he realized that this new LA team is not a contender at all. Now he seeks for a way out. But with some excuse so that it does not look that obvious. He may fool a 10 year old kid, but it is all there. Why are there rumors that he is going to sign with Heat or Spurs but not with Celtics, Bobcats (if he is looking for playing time, why not go there) or Hornets?

I am all with Evenstar here. I hope he does not come to Seattle, and whereever he goes, my dislike will follow him and I'll root against his team. (Well, I am sure he cares about it

).

Gargamel · Dec 11, 2004

VF21 said:

Webber did make a me comment, but in a divisive way towards existing teammates. You certainly didn't say he had no class whatsoever, or at least, I don't recall you saying that.

"And what I mean by those comments, those who do not work as hard as ME, I do not want to play with. You can take that to mean anybody you want to. If you do not shoot before or after practice, I don't want to play with you. If you're always out of shape, I don't want to play with you. ... (followed by three more statements ending in "...I don't want to play with you").

- Chris Webber

KA_2 · Dec 11, 2004

Every great player in history is every bit as arrogant as Kobe Bryant. Come on VF, these are multi-millionaire superstar athletes with chiseled bodies who are adored by millions of people. I'd be arrogant too.

Heuge · Dec 11, 2004

Gargamel said:

Webber's comments are different then Kobe (though I think Webb is a pretty selfish guy). Kobe's words implied that the other players were playing for Kobe, while Webb wanted people around him to be hard workers so the team would win.

VF21 · Dec 11, 2004

Thanks, Heuge - that was my take, too.

I should know by now the standard response for a Laker fan when confronted by something negative on a Kings board about a Laker player is to immediately bring Webber into the discussion as a smoke screen.

Lamar, Gargamel, etc - You obviously are looking at the whole situation from a different perspective than I am and that's fine. Of all the Laker fan comments, the one I agree with the most - brace yourselves - is KA 2's. At least he didn't deny the arrogance of Kobe Bryant. Your team is minus a top tier coach, a pretty good center and now, quite likely, another HOFer with the alienation of Karl Malone, who would have done a LOT of good for your organization. Hey, I couldn't care less... one less team for the Kings to worry about.

GO KINGS!!!

Bartking · Dec 11, 2004

KA_2 said:

No. David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Wayne Gretzky aren't. Some guys can keep a perspective and stay grounded, many can't.

Certainly a lot of stars are arrogant, annoying babies. That's a major reason why I didn't watch a lot of basketball in the 90's (until I saw the new Kings play). I think it's why a lot of people turn off major sports.

Gargamel · Dec 11, 2004

Heuge said:

Oh, yeah. CLEAR difference. Webb good. Kobe bad.

Webber's comments were no smokescreen. They could've been taken a whole lot worse than Kobe's, but weren't because he's Chris Webber.

VF21 · Dec 11, 2004

This isn't going to be about Kobe vs. Webber, is it?

If so, feel free to continue but I think it's totally immaterial. The important thing is that Kobe Bryant has already driven away a top coach, a premiere center AND now, quite possibly, one of the best PF to ever play the game. If you think it's really the same thing, that's fine... Wrong, but fine.

Gargamel · Dec 11, 2004

VF21 said:

The only problem is that Shaq and Jackson have admitted numerous times that this is not the case. The bottom line in both situations was money. I guess we'll have to buy that Malone was driven away because of those comments (afaic, there's not enough beef there to believe it with conviction).

It's not Kobe vs Webber. It's Kobe's image vs anyone else's image. You brought up Webber's name and I quickly supplied a "me" quote from him...which was immediately downplayed as I expected it would be.

VF21 · Dec 11, 2004

Gargamel said:

Ah, revisionist history much? What I said was:

VF21 said:

I think your own Laker fans and the media in LA will - at the end of all this - be much better judges than I. As I said before, I couldn't really care less. Webber has talked the talk and now he's walking the walk and it's paying huge dividends for the Kings. That's all that matters to me.

Heuge · Dec 11, 2004

Gargamel said:

If that is what you took from what I wrote, then you clearly miss read it. Im not touting Webb at all, go back and reread it. Their comments were different, Kobe's implied that the players motivation came from their attempt to appease Kobe. Webb called for hard work. If it was a selfish statement from Webb, at least he didn't come right out and say that the players on his team play for him.

KA_2 · Dec 12, 2004

Heuge said:

Garg's point from the beginning (from what I can tell) has been that your interpretation of his statement is wrong (in his opinion). And I agree, I see absolutely no difference between the two comments. You could just as easily say that Bryant was implying that his players work so hard for him that it's not fair for someone (Malone) to be hovering over his teammates' shoulders waiting to take their roster spot. That's exactly what I got from his comments.

I think a lot of people have this ingrained image of Kobe Bryant and can’t seem to shake it no matter what he says, even if nearly the exact same things are said in the exact same situations by other players. That’s true of Webber too; he can’t shake the “choke” label ever since that infamous timeout in college. People call him a choker to this day, even though that hasn’t been accurate for nearly two years (2003 being his breakout clutch year).

Gargamel · Dec 12, 2004

KA_2 said:

Garg's point from the beginning (from what I can tell) has been that your interpretation of his statement is wrong (in his opinion). And I agree, I see absolutely no difference between the two comments. You could just as easily say that Bryant was implying that his players work so hard for him that it's not fair for someone (Malone) to be hovering over his teammates' shoulders waiting to take their roster spot. That's exactly what I got from his comments.

I think a lot of people have this ingrained image of Kobe Bryant and can’t seem to shake it no matter what he says, even if nearly the exact same things are said in the exact same situations by other players. That’s true of Webber too; he can’t shake the “choke” label ever since that infamous timeout in college. People call him a choker to this day, even though that hasn’t been accurate for nearly two years (2003 being his breakout clutch year).

Sounds good to me.

VF21 · Dec 12, 2004

I don't want to merge this with the merged Saga thread, because it will lose continuity, etc. I would suggest that it people want to continue to discuss this topic that they use the merged thread:

http://forums.kingsfans.com/showthread.php?t=1575

Ticked at Kobe Malone might not return to L.A.

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