[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

 He wants to play in 2016 to go out on a high note, fair enough.  Even though the game has passed him by, he’s coming to terms with it….nice.  But then you read this??

But he was very quick to say, ‘But I don’t want a spot. I need to earn the spot. I need to be capable of playing at that level to be considered.’ And I said, ‘You got that. That’s always there for you, Kobe.’ ”

”How I feel now is that I feel like I can add value from a leadership perspective and a defensive perspective,” Bryant said. ”I can still move extremely well defensively.”

 

This…after watching him jack up a 3 and then see Joe Johnson run the floor and hit a layup on him….let me borrow a phrase….COME ON MANNNNNNNN

 

 

[LA12Participant]

 Yeah, Kobe’s defense dropped off REALLY fast. He’s been a pretty bad defender for a few years now. Can’t blame Dwight for always being mad at him on that end of the floor.

[LA12Participant]

 Yeah, Kobe’s defense dropped off REALLY fast. He’s been a pretty bad defender for a few years now. Can’t blame Dwight for always being mad at him on that end of the floor.

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 USA squad so he can ride off into the sunset w/ a gold medal…. I have to admit, part of me would like to see that & part of me would like to see a younger guy get that opportunity…. But I’m not sure the Lakers or the Lakers fans want to see the Mamba in a purple & yellow Uni next season…. Either way, t’s pretty clear Kobe does not see this as his final year… this could get messy….

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 USA squad so he can ride off into the sunset w/ a gold medal…. I have to admit, part of me would like to see that & part of me would like to see a younger guy get that opportunity…. But I’m not sure the Lakers or the Lakers fans want to see the Mamba in a purple & yellow Uni next season…. Either way, t’s pretty clear Kobe does not see this as his final year… this could get messy….

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 he already takes All-star spots away from players that are deserving, only the best players should play in the olympics, 

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 he already takes All-star spots away from players that are deserving, only the best players should play in the olympics, 

[CynthiaParticipant]

Let the man do what he wants to do, he is a legend. Despite all the Kobe hate, and despite his age and declining skill, he’s still better than 3/4 the league. I understand some Lakers fans are probably at the point where "enough is enough" but what better option do you have? Lakers bench is terrible, especially the wing. Young is decent but a chucker, MWP is even more past his prime than Kobe, and Anthony Brown is blah at best.

[CynthiaParticipant]

Let the man do what he wants to do, he is a legend. Despite all the Kobe hate, and despite his age and declining skill, he’s still better than 3/4 the league. I understand some Lakers fans are probably at the point where "enough is enough" but what better option do you have? Lakers bench is terrible, especially the wing. Young is decent but a chucker, MWP is even more past his prime than Kobe, and Anthony Brown is blah at best.

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Anthony Brown shot a good amount of 3’s in preseason at a 50% clip with solid defense. He should probably be splitting the minutes with Meta. Brown can probably do more than shoot but was asked to play a role in preseason. Solid pick. 

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Anthony Brown shot a good amount of 3’s in preseason at a 50% clip with solid defense. He should probably be splitting the minutes with Meta. Brown can probably do more than shoot but was asked to play a role in preseason. Solid pick. 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 At this point in his career, Kobe IS NOT better than 3/4 of the league.  He is a legend, but that shouldn’t give him a free pass to jack up terrible shots and just be awful.  Father time is undefeated and Kobe’s decline has been stunning to me.

[CynthiaParticipant]

With around 420 active players in the league (not even counting the extras that are stuck in DLeague purgatory) 3/4 of the league would be 105 players. If you seriously don’t think, even at this point in his career, that Kobe isn’t in the top 105 players then you’re just being a hater.

[CynthiaParticipant]

With around 420 active players in the league (not even counting the extras that are stuck in DLeague purgatory) 3/4 of the league would be 105 players. If you seriously don’t think, even at this point in his career, that Kobe isn’t in the top 105 players then you’re just being a hater.

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 At this point in his career, Kobe IS NOT better than 3/4 of the league.  He is a legend, but that shouldn’t give him a free pass to jack up terrible shots and just be awful.  Father time is undefeated and Kobe’s decline has been stunning to me.

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

to come into practice and berate your teammates, thats fine, as a Coach.  If you are on the floor and need to lead by example, you can’t jack up shots, sulk, not get back on defense, and suggest your teammates are learning by watching you shoot, and that you’re a good defender.

This is the difference between he and guys like KG and Duncan, who have assumed that veteran leadership role naturally and aren’t out there still with the "star-expectations".  They’re just playing the game, Kobe wants to play the game AND be a star at the same time.

If he wants to be on the olympics as a swan-song thats fine, I guess some fans will enjoy it (I won’t if he plays the way he is right now), but I’m tired of him playing to the media and celebrating himself, and desire to go out a winner.  You didn’t see soemone like Derek Jeter say these things on his way out, Jeter just loved the game and continued to play and went out on a high note. 

He’s always been delusional but its been to his strength. Now, it makes him look so bad.  You’re old and you want a spot, fine.  You’ll never earn a spot on that US roster.  He’s savvy and can get his own shot, but his legs appear to be done.  

Why not add Jordan to it too.  

 

 

 

  

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Some wines age extremely well.

The vino nickname is not appropriate for Kobe.

It turns out he’s aging more like a warm, opened can of Colt 45.

 

 

[Kwame33Participant]

 This is one of the best comments I’ve seen on this board lmao!!

[Kwame33Participant]

 This is one of the best comments I’ve seen on this board lmao!!

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Some wines age extremely well.

The vino nickname is not appropriate for Kobe.

It turns out he’s aging more like a warm, opened can of Colt 45.

 

 

[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

to come into practice and berate your teammates, thats fine, as a Coach.  If you are on the floor and need to lead by example, you can’t jack up shots, sulk, not get back on defense, and suggest your teammates are learning by watching you shoot, and that you’re a good defender.

This is the difference between he and guys like KG and Duncan, who have assumed that veteran leadership role naturally and aren’t out there still with the "star-expectations".  They’re just playing the game, Kobe wants to play the game AND be a star at the same time.

If he wants to be on the olympics as a swan-song thats fine, I guess some fans will enjoy it (I won’t if he plays the way he is right now), but I’m tired of him playing to the media and celebrating himself, and desire to go out a winner.  You didn’t see soemone like Derek Jeter say these things on his way out, Jeter just loved the game and continued to play and went out on a high note. 

He’s always been delusional but its been to his strength. Now, it makes him look so bad.  You’re old and you want a spot, fine.  You’ll never earn a spot on that US roster.  He’s savvy and can get his own shot, but his legs appear to be done.  

Why not add Jordan to it too.  

 

 

 

  

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