Okay, I know this is the umpteenth Kobe thread but this is really a separate topic I believe. I was personally a guy that hated Kobe up through even last season probably. I hated everything about him, from the way he modeled his mannerisms after MJ (please don't argue he doesn't) to the his since of entitlement as the next greatest player. Now for some reason I'm rooting for the Lakers this year. I don't know if its because I'm just rooting for a winner. Or if its because Kobe has endured alot of criticism and he has finally learned to just shut up and play ball. I was surprised to see me rooting hard for them against Utah and I'm surprised to see a lot of the hype he's getting on this board, especially considering how he was hated, and secondly, his principle counterpart and peer for so long was T-Mac. So simple question, do you like Kobe, did you always like, did you not like him and still don't are don't care.
Your post remind me of a typical love story. Guy and girl hates each other but later finds that special something inside their foe and later falls in love. Too bad you love is only one way. I want to see him win without Shaq so haters could just stop talking like he's second fiddle to Shaq.
no I hated him before. I still hate him now. He was a whiny spoiled kid in the off season wanting to move in with his mom when his dad wouldn't give him what he wanted. So the Dad stole some money to give the spoiled whiny kid the toys he wanted and now he acts all happy. Ticks me off when spoiled kids get what they want.
He has matured a lot these past few years... There is no doubt I've always liked and respected him as a player, but I really respect his new found respect for the media and his teammates. I think he's an awesome guy unless he's playing against the Rockets, then I hate his ass
How can you say that when in the offseason he said the crap he did about his teammates? The guy is unbelievably good on the basketball court, but as a person he leaves a lot to be desired.
I still hate him, but I admit that he's making it a little harder than he used to. I hate him because (1) he plays for LA, (2) he's good and not a Rocket, (3) he's a drama queen, (4) he seems very selfish, (5) he's self-important, (6) he cheated on his wife. However, I can see his likable qualities: (a) incredibly hard-working, (b) one of the greatest players ever, (c) has been a model player on the court all season. I also feel a little sorry for him because so many people in our generation will never admit he's as good as or better than Jordan no matter what he does because they have idealized Jordan into some sort of supernatural basketball talent (and humorously still live in denial about his defeat in 1995). Despite the temptation, however, I'll still hate on Kobe.
He is a great player, and winning makes everyone look better. Now instead of berating his teammates he is leading now. Which means he isn't any different then he used to be. Its just that winning makes evryone look better.
But he threw them under the bus 10 months ago. That doesn't show an increase in maturity over the last couple of years.
I've always liked Kobe because it's easy for me to like great players. I'm a fan of the game. I don't fault him for throwing management under the bus, because they did a pretty crappy job the last couple years.
Kobe has a huge ego and low tolerance when it comes to lack of effort and play by his teammates. These two qualities, while they rightfully make him look like a jerk, also are the reasons that make him great. What I respect about Kobe is that he wants to win and wants to win it bad. He saw his teammates weren't bringing it in the way they should have been and he called them for it. The very same teammates responded this season and played without any complaints with him this season. If those comments did not affect them negatively, I don't see why it should to us. Michael Jordan, who is loved by many, has done much worse in this regards... 1) He punched Will Purdue in practice for setting a hard screen on him in practice. Asked why he did that, he responded by saying that Purdue never set a good screen in game so why was he doing it in practice? 2) Jordan once punched Steve Kerr in practice. Why? Because kerr was playing tough defense on him in practice. 3) Jordan once said he was "tired of playing with a bunch of white stiffs." I think, what Jordan has done, in regards to treating teammates is far worse than what Kobe said, yet MJ is loved by everyone. Interesting. So, when it comes to criticizing teammates, I don't see much wrong with what Kobe did, but I can see why others would. I just feel that as the leader of the team he is entitled to criticize them if he feels his teammates are dogging it. It shows he cares about wining. I just think that he is disliked by many because of his mega arrogance and the fact that he does not even bother to hide it.
Not by everyone. I never liked Micheal Jordan. He played at North Carolina.. which automatically put him on my crap list. He never left it. I can appreciate their talent on the court, but I don't have to like them.
He's on the most talented team in the NBA, winning again, and he's playing the best and smartest basketball of his career. His situation has become more admirable, but he's still the same guy.
Does anyone think hes been doing these random Viral Videos to try to bolster his image with younger nba fans? Random assessment of mine, but I was thinking about this the other day.
