KOBE TALK (Your one-stop shop for everything Kobe!)

[Fresh8]

Hell No!

Kobe cant go there... Tony Parker will be angry now!

[matmat8]

I can't see him in san antonio or phoenix
It would be great for SA to have kobe. Kobe+Duncan would be hard to stop and SA needs a "fancy" player.
I wonder how popovich would coach kobe...

[Fresh8]

So wat do u Kobe fans think of Kobe's 3? Howmany new shots... has he collected this season to put in his personal highlight reel? more than last year i think... wat do u guys think? (Of course that consecutive thrre-pointerrs game was real good but hes done so much more this year for his team!)

[Jackal]

Kobe's three was the shiznit.

[.]

It was about 6 in the morning when he made the shot over here, he got the ball....dribbled his way to the 3-point line and then stopped, I was soooo nervous at that moment, but I also felt a bit comfortable because it was Kobe and he has done this countless times, when he made the shot I was jumping up and down while everyone over here was asleep .

Im so amazed of what he can do, what a athlete.

[.]

Kobe will meet with the Knicks

June 9, 2004 -- LOS ANGELES — Free-agent-to-abe Kobe Bryant told The Post yesterday he would make a recruiting visit to New York if the Knicks extend an invitation in three weeks, when the free-agency courting period begins.
Knick President Isiah Thomas is not allowed to speak to Bryant or his agent Rob Pelinka until July 1. At yesterday morning's shootaround before the Lakers' gutsy 99-91 OT win last night in Game 2 of the Finals, Bryant was asked if he would pay New York a visit if Thomas invited him, as is expected.

"I'll be there," said Bryant, who scored 33 points and hit the game-tying 3-pointer with two seconds to go last night, sending the game into overtime.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah," Kobe said. "I'm going to listen to all options. If he invites me, I'll be there."

[Amphatoast]

LMAO!
Kobe a Knick? hahahahaha
that would simply be so great for me and a buncha other knicks fans
Marbs+Bryant+Sweetney= Easter Conference Title Contenders (Pistons maybe in the way!)

i highly doubt that though
I see this as a publicity move by Bryant, cuz the Knicks could only pay him $5million if they wanted to sign him and a sign and trade would be tough.
No one wants Houston since he is now injuried (+ contract) and I'm not sure if Isiah is willing to trade the hometown kid, Marbury for Kobe.
Marbury+Shaq+Kareem outside shooting= lakers still in contention

[Steve04]

I just don't see Kobe in NY..

[Jackal]

I dont see Kobe anywhere but LA, but we might see him elsewhere soon.

[Fresh8]

Kobe's only trying to grab some newspaper headlines asnd checking out wat offers he could get. Ho won't leave LA...plus, the Lakers are probaly the best place to stay for him...moneywise and the team management will listen to his every command. All he wants is power. If he stays he will have it!

Oh yeah...apparently my friend told me the commentator goes,"The ball is in Bryant's hands...this is a big mistake.." And then Kobe scored the three!

[Andrew]

Ho won't leave LA...plus, the Lakers are probaly the best place to stay for him...moneywise and the team management will listen to his every command. All he wants is power. If he stays he will have it!

If the past is anything to go by, Shaq probably has the louder voice when it comes to team management. Consider when their feud appeared to be heating up again this past offseason after Payton and Malone signed. Even though both players made some comments about the other, it was Kobe who was fined.

[Fresh8]

Well... it was Kobe who made management stop negotiations with Jax cause he hinted he was tired of his coach... and they refused that extension with Shaq to show Kobs that they wanted him back!

And on a side note- Kobe will need to work hard against Tayshaun Prince. I take back what I said bout the Pistons choosing Darko...that is after Milicic played and Prince is playing real tight D on Kobe!

[Donyell]

I would realy hate it if kobe leaves LA.
Picture him playing in a Knicks jersey, nooooooooo

[Jackal]

Well... it was Kobe who made management stop negotiations with Jax cause he hinted he was tired of his coach... and they refused that extension with Shaq to show Kobs that they wanted him back!

A question, where can I get LA insider info like this?

What I find strange about your comment is Ginny (how ever it's spelt) Buss, Jackson's girlfriend said he would be back 95%. He replied that she was a bit irrational in her comments, but still I would choose Shaq + Jackson over Kobe. That's personal biasedness though. Anyways, we'll see what the future holds for LA.

[Andrew]

Well... it was Kobe who made management stop negotiations with Jax cause he hinted he was tired of his coach... and they refused that extension with Shaq to show Kobs that they wanted him back!

The Lakers can't sign Shaq to another extension yet, per NBA rules. I don't think Kobe has anything to do with it, since they can exceed the salary cap to re-sign Kobe. I don't think Kobe necessarily stopped the negotiations with Jax either; I've never read anything that suggested that.

[Micchy_boy]

Andrew just asking what Nba rules say that they can re-sign Shaq for an extension. is this something to do with salary-cap?

[Andrew]

It was in the article that [urlhttp://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~nbalive/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14949]Jackal posted a while ago[/url]:

Another part of you wants to ask O'Neal what he is thinking. He is still under contract for two more seasons and, by league rules, cannot sign another three-year extension until after July 1.

The Lakers haven't refused an extension, they simply cannot sign him to another one just yet. Shaq and Kobe have both been playing for the Lakers for 8 seasons now. The Lakers can exceed the salary cap to re-sign Kobe to a lucrative deal, and give Shaq an extension he is satisfied with. The luxury tax will probably be an issue, but the Lakers are probably willing to pay both Shaq and Kobe a lot of money to remain in LA.

[Amphatoast]

well, anther dismal performance for Kobe...if the Lakers do win it all somehow in 7, Shaq no doubt is MVP cuz no Shaq= Piston blow out every game

[Fresh8]

Well...if I find another article about Kobe's influence on managment- I'll post it up or put in a link...

[Andrew]

Where did you read the original article? Everything I've read has suggested that if any player on the Lakers pulls the strings, it's Shaq. I disagree with your assertion that Kobe has the most influence on management, but you could be right. None of us know exactly what goes on behind the scenes, we all have to draw our own conclusions.

If nothing else, Shaq certainly feels he has a lot of control over the Lakers' management.

[Fresh8]

Well...maybe I misinterpreted it...

It was on LAtimes.com and some guy wrote how insiders believe Kobe will be leaving. At the same time...GM Mitch K. was talking to Jax about getting him a new contract...a few days later negotiations were terminated and Mitch met with Kobe and told him that the reason why they didnt want to bring Phil back was because they want him back as a Laker.

Mitch also said that because Kobe hinted he was tired of Jax's coaching....that was a reson to stop talking about Jackson's contract.

With Shaq...I may have exagerrated but Shaq was asking managment to assure him of a contract extention and a bigger one too. But because of his and Kobe's dislike of each oher- the Lakers have decided to stop talking to Shaq about him too...in order to try and assure Kobe that he is the main focus.

Therefore, Kobe has most influence on the team.

[Amphatoast]

i think Kobe might be leaving now....Lakers team kind of sucks...only Kobe and Shaq...if he went to a team like say the Clippers, he would have more options and they would have no problem giving him the ball since they have been losing for so many years and know Kobe was a winner with the Lakers.
i don't think he would go to the Spurs either...TD is a bit like Shaq...not as dominant but still the same status basically and Kobe wants to lead his own team and be without a doubt the franchise player and TD is the spurs franchise player and a very good one.

[point-guard]

i think Kobe might be leaving now....Lakers team kind of sucks...only Kobe and Shaq...if he went to a team like say the Clippers, he would have more options and they would have no problem giving him the ball since they have been losing for so many years and know Kobe was a winner with the Lakers.
i don't think he would go to the Spurs either...TD is a bit like Shaq...not as dominant but still the same status basically and Kobe wants to lead his own team and be without a doubt the franchise player and TD is the spurs franchise player and a very good one.

..mr tmac wannabe?

[Amphatoast]

sure why not.
He probably will do better since he knows what it is like with a superstar and wouldn't have a problem rebuilding..he already has 3 rings

oh and in t-mac's case, if grant hill was still grant hill, we know the Magic would be much better...it was suppose to be the Hill/Mac show but it's just been the t-mac show...maybe next season..

[EGarrett]

I think we got a demonstration yesterday of what Kobe Bryant is all about.

We can't really tell by listening to him...because most of his quotes and persona are completely false...but fortunately for us...actions speak louder than words.

Even when the Lakers were rolling with Shaq...Kobe would STILL take the ball and force up bad shots. When his team needed it most...he still could not be unselfish.

He's just a scorer...sort of like Allen Iverson or Stephon Marbury...or any of those other guys that put up 30 points and never goes anywhere or carries his team to any type of success. Sure...he passes on occassion...but they're all when he's either double-teamed or he's held the ball for 15 seconds and he drives in and lays it off to someone.

Shaquille O'Neal is the reason the Lakers won 3 championships...and it's clear that he was the one who was right all along in their disputes. He scores...Kobe shoots. If Kobe were on another team...he'd just be another Iverson, Marbury or McGrady...shooting 30 shots and losing...making his teammates worse, making them hate him and never winning anything of substance (the '01 Sixers were an incredible defensive team with an incredible coach).

Kobe was fortunate enough to end up in a winning situation...but he's never figured out how to really play basketball...and since he hasn't learned by losing...he never will.