Disagree 2013 everyone was talking how awesome James Harden is, his jump into the elite. When Harden's stats just EQUALED Kobe's stats that year, that Kobe's been doing for over 10 years year in year out. We forget how consistently good Kobe was over his peers. It took Harden to see what a Kobe type effect is (No I dont like Kobe)
Get used to it.. because it's going to happen ALOT more... thats how Kobe fanboys used to do with legends, and now that he's on his way out, you're going to hear all kinds of asinine claims against his career to in light of some new player. Once you try to defend it with proof its going to be called nostalgia and old man yelling at the clouds.. Funny how things turn
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe Bryant appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live & shot down idea he's retiring <a href="http://t.co/ztEjEwcIes">http://t.co/ztEjEwcIes</a></p>— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/570245323097903104">February 24, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe added he won't announce his retirement until his last season ends so he can avoid the whole farewell tour. <a href="http://t.co/ztEjEwcIes">http://t.co/ztEjEwcIes</a></p>— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/570245554015379456">February 24, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe Bryant stopped a trade in 2007 that had him heading to an Eastern Conference team. <a href="http://t.co/AJFpEgI3Hs">http://t.co/AJFpEgI3Hs</a> <a href="http://t.co/FjOBGO6pPt">pic.twitter.com/FjOBGO6pPt</a></p>— The Source Magazine (@THESOURCE) <a href="https://twitter.com/THESOURCE/status/570030457225670656">February 24, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe talks about "squashing" a trade to the Pistons in 2007, and wanting to go to the Bulls <a href="http://t.co/HY97fZurGI">http://t.co/HY97fZurGI</a> <a href="http://t.co/xwM7d9uXAM">pic.twitter.com/xwM7d9uXAM</a></p>— Matt Moore CBS (@MattMooreCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattMooreCBS/status/569944125245534208">February 23, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yeah it wasn't too long ago he was crying (like Dwight who he hated so much) about being traded. The infamous "Andrew Bynum is fat, boo hoo" tirade. "Trade me to Chicago, pleaseeeee, but not for Deng, I want Deng, boo hoo". He was a b**** just like every other superstar but tries to pretend like he's above everyone else.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe revealed he's had pain in the same shoulder since 2001. He's just dealt with it for years. Dr.'s said the tear was there for a time.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/575475353470160897">March 11, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kobe: there's a possibility he'd play beyond next year, but there's no way he can tell that right now. If he had to guess now he'd say no.</p>— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/575474875000717312">March 11, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I think it would be cool to see Older NBA Vets play in different leagues around the world, would be sick to see Kobe play a season in Barcelona or another Euro Team. Would be like how Football players leave Euro teams for the MLS.
More interesting would be the question when is Timmy Duncan going to retire? That at least would guarantee that the Spurs would have little chance to be in the Top 3 at least for the foreseeable future Parker and Leonard would still be their engine but yeah
Mitch Kupchak: Kobe Bryant 'indicated to me that this is it' Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said star guard Kobe Bryant has told him that the upcoming 2015-16 season will be Bryant's last with the Lakers. "He has indicated to me that this is it," Kupchak said Thursday in a radio appearance with SiriusXM NBA Radio. Bryant is scheduled to make a league-high $25 million in his final contract season -- his 20th -- with the Lakers. But there's speculation that Bryant could play beyond next season, and Bryant said he hasn't ruled out that possibility. "I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal," Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio. "There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be." Bryant will be 37 years old when next season begins, and his last three seasons have ended early because of injury. He played only 35 games last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. "A year from now, if there's something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then," Kupchak said of Bryant potentially playing beyond next season. "I talk to him from time to time ... and he is recovering. He's running. He's getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he's much closer to the end than to the beginning." Because of the uncertainty as to Bryant's future, Kupchak said he's unsure if there will be a farewell tour next season. "It's kind of up to the player, if they want to do something like that," Kupchak said. "And it also may take away some options a year from now and put a player in an awkward position, but he will be recognized appropriately with great gratitude when it is time." Kupchak was also asked if it's important for potential free agents to have clarity on Bryant's future plans with the team, particularly if they're wary of joining the team while Bryant is still playing, a notion that has been reported in recent years. "I think it is clear," Kupchak said. "He's on the last year of his deal. There have been no discussions [about playing beyond next season]. He hasn't indicated that he wants to continue to play. "But if there is a player out there like that, that won't come here for that reason, then we don't want them. Every great player is demanding and focused and if you don't want to play for a guy like him that's driven to do nothing but win championships and work hard, then you shouldn't be here. You should go someplace else." Kupchak also said that maybe a decade ago, Bryant wanted to be involved in just about every decision the organization made, including which players it drafted. But with the Lakers holding the No. 2 overall selection in the June 25 draft, Kupchak said he doesn't expect Bryant to have much -- if any -- input on who the team selects this year. "Seven or eight years ago, he just backed away and said, 'You guys know what you're doing,' which was flattering," Kupchak said in a radio appearance Thursday with ESPN's Colin Cowherd. "[He said,] 'I'm just going to do what I do during the offseason. If you need me, I'll help recruit. If you want my opinion on a player, give me a call. I'll be at the gym today, let's sit down and get lunch, let's talk.' That's kind of where we are today. "... He knows about the guys at Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina, but I don't think he wants to be involved in the draft at all." Kupchak reiterated that Bryant is still involved in recruiting free agents. "He's more than willing [to call a player] every time I asked him," Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio. But Kupchak can't yet publicly say whether that includes Rajon Rondo, the mercurial four-time All-Star point guard. "I know I can't comment on free agents," Kupchak told Cowherd. "But I mentioned earlier, we have two things: No. 1, we have a rookie [Jordan Clarkson] who had a good year who's a ball-handling guard who can also, I think, be in the backcourt with another ball-handling player. I think that would work. "But the other thing we have is, we do have a lot of cap room. We feel like we do have to be aggressive. Getting the [No. 2 overall] pick takes a little bit of the pressure off to do something borderline this summer."
I have always believed Kobe would pull a Beckham and go play out his last 2-3 years in Rome or Barcelona or Athens. Still believing he will do that. Retire from the Lakers, and I GUARANTEE if he wanted to some organization in Europe would pay him $20-$30 million per year.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My thoughts on next season being my last season are the same as the last time the media asked me last season <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nadanew?src=hash">#nadanew</a></p>— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) <a href="https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/601885445941661697">May 22, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> would be nice if he stayed a few extra years to ruin the lakers lol
