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Kobe Bryant Clears the Air
From Kobe Bryant's official website:
UPDATE: Kobe Bryant went on two radio shows today and was extremely candid making the case that the front office has misled him. (More on those same interviews.) He says that at the end of the 2004 season, Lakers management allegedly told Phil Jackson they had a plan to cut down spending. Meanwhile, that is apparently not what they told Bryant. The blog Sports at Random has links to both radio interviews, and supplies a written summary:
I have NOT asked to be traded, I don't want to be traded and I have given no ultimatums or demands of being traded.
I love it here in LA, my family loves it here.
I've been a Laker fan my whole life. A REAL Laker fan! I'm talkin Silk Wilks days, and know the history of the Lakers going back to George Mikan era. I WANT to retire a Laker and contend for titles.
It is my opinion that Mr. Clutch, one of the greatest GMs the game has ever seen would be able to get us to back to that level sooner rather than later.
If he is available, then it makes sense to give him the reins and let him do what he does BEST. I KNOW I can trust him to build us an elite team.
I'm tired of losing and I'm sure you guys are tired of it as well.
Now is the time to step up and make some things happen. We have all have waited patiently for three years ... Let's GO!
Re-read those words, and consider the theory I heard today and am not totally ready to buy that the real divide within the Lakers is between those who want to win now (Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson are surely on board) and those who want to build for the long-term (Jim Buss, presumably, who is said to have been a big force in bringing in Andrew Bynum, and probably others).I love it here in LA, my family loves it here.
I've been a Laker fan my whole life. A REAL Laker fan! I'm talkin Silk Wilks days, and know the history of the Lakers going back to George Mikan era. I WANT to retire a Laker and contend for titles.
It is my opinion that Mr. Clutch, one of the greatest GMs the game has ever seen would be able to get us to back to that level sooner rather than later.
If he is available, then it makes sense to give him the reins and let him do what he does BEST. I KNOW I can trust him to build us an elite team.
I'm tired of losing and I'm sure you guys are tired of it as well.
Now is the time to step up and make some things happen. We have all have waited patiently for three years ... Let's GO!
UPDATE: Kobe Bryant went on two radio shows today and was extremely candid making the case that the front office has misled him. (More on those same interviews.) He says that at the end of the 2004 season, Lakers management allegedly told Phil Jackson they had a plan to cut down spending. Meanwhile, that is apparently not what they told Bryant. The blog Sports at Random has links to both radio interviews, and supplies a written summary:
They told Kobe they wanted to win right now , he reports. "They're going to do everything they can to get this team to an elite level -- right now. They said nothing -- NOTHING -- to me about some long-term plan. Absolutely NOTHING." (You need to hear his voice to really hear how he is saying it -- he's devastated, betrayed).
Earlier in the interview he mentioned that Baron Davis called him and told him he wanted to be a Laker for less money and GM Mitch Kupchak told Kobe that Baron was too injury prone. Then Carlos Boozer called him and said he wanted to be a Laker and Kupchak said he couldn't guard forwards. Even Ron Artest has called Kobe and told him he wanted to be a Laker. Each time Kobe went to Lakers management and got all excited and told them these guys want to be on his team and each time they denied him. Now, looking back, Kobe said "I'm lookin' like a fool" because they are on "some long-term plan that I have no clue about." Then, when asked if this whole thing is repairable, Kobe said, "I don't know."
Also, Kurt from Forum Blue & Gold offers some interpretation, and evidence of some kind of Buss family split:Earlier in the interview he mentioned that Baron Davis called him and told him he wanted to be a Laker for less money and GM Mitch Kupchak told Kobe that Baron was too injury prone. Then Carlos Boozer called him and said he wanted to be a Laker and Kupchak said he couldn't guard forwards. Even Ron Artest has called Kobe and told him he wanted to be a Laker. Each time Kobe went to Lakers management and got all excited and told them these guys want to be on his team and each time they denied him. Now, looking back, Kobe said "I'm lookin' like a fool" because they are on "some long-term plan that I have no clue about." Then, when asked if this whole thing is repairable, Kobe said, "I don't know."
There was Jim Buss on 570 AM saying he's not sure Phil Jackson is good at bringing young players along (this after years where Jerry Buss had said he thought the triangle "boring.") and says he doesn't like Phil chastising his players publicly. Then his sister Jeannie Buss, who runs the business side of the operation and lives with the coach, goes on another show on that same radio station and says its ironic that Jim would publicly question the tactic of the coach to publicly question his players.
But I think the key thing Jeannie said is she had not spoken to Jim about this (and it was several days after the first comment). No communication there, and apparently not with Phil. Then company man Kurt Rambis comes on the same radio station and defends Phil, saying that Buss never comes to practice so how would he know how the staff works with young players. Then on top of it all Kobe brings up the specter of West (and now West is saying he wouldn't come back and step on Kupchak like that).
It all reads like power is shifting some - Jerry Buss is giving up some of his and everyone is fighting for parts of it.
One thing is certain: ratings have been good on L.A. sports radio lately.
But I think the key thing Jeannie said is she had not spoken to Jim about this (and it was several days after the first comment). No communication there, and apparently not with Phil. Then company man Kurt Rambis comes on the same radio station and defends Phil, saying that Buss never comes to practice so how would he know how the staff works with young players. Then on top of it all Kobe brings up the specter of West (and now West is saying he wouldn't come back and step on Kupchak like that).
It all reads like power is shifting some - Jerry Buss is giving up some of his and everyone is fighting for parts of it.