Kobe stays with Lakers

[akhhorus]

according to ESPNNEWS. Link to follow.

[suppitty]

Well i hope he has fun realizing how much shaq did for him. The lakers will get 5th place at best.

[LATrueRedskin]

No surprise here. Kobe got his wish, now we will all find out how good Kobe really is without the Diesel taking up space at the rim.

[RedskinsDave]

I surprised 9 other guys can squeeze onto the court with the size of Kobe's head.

[LATrueRedskin]

I surprised 9 other guys can squeeze onto the court with the size of Kobe's head.

Yeah. I can't believe Kobe freakin Bryant can dictate the trading of the best center of my time and the firing of the most winningest coach in the modern era. Unbelievable.

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

Link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1840336

[RedskinsVision]

the Lakers have now gotten rid of the best executive in all NBA (J. West).. the best coach (P. Jackson) and now the best player (Shaq). Stephen A. Smith on SportsCenter last night said the Lakers are done for a long time.. 5th place in the conference at best. i just hope the Lakers fans realize what they've lost for a primadona.

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

The thing that I find amuzing is that everybody seems to hate Kobe, but everybody wants to have him on his team.

[LATrueRedskin]

The thing that I find amuzing is that everybody seems to hate Kobe, but everybody wants to have him on his team.

I'd take him, but I sure as hell wouldn't let Jerry West go, fire Phil Jackson, and trade Shaquille O'Neal just to keep him. Thats a bonehead move. :banghead:

[GolfFreak]

Wow, guess he had no reason to leave after they bent over the chair for him. I suppose he can't got to jail for violating the FO ...

[Minnesota Mike]

Wow, guess he had no reason to leave after they bent over the chair for him. I suppose he can't got to jail for violating the FO ...

not if it was consensual.

[CarMike]

Anyone hear about Kobes' request to the Lakers? He wants to play 12 games in Anahiem [?] because its closer to his house.

Apparently they are considering this...

[BigCountry]

They're investing the franchise in Kobe which is a risk they sooner or later would have to take. If Kobe's a premadonna, what's a man who would have been able to win the mvp the last 2 seasons if he trained half as hard as Kobe? Shaq is still the most dominating player in the game, but he is by no means a hard worker and unless he becomes one, will be able to rely on his physical gifts only for about 3 more years, where as Kobe is a top 5 player in the league at 25 and can still improve. I can't say it'll work for sure, but you people are acting like there's no pro arguments at all which doesn't really suprise me.

I love Laker hating on nothing but narrow minded public opinion. How the hell do you call one of the most hard working players in the league a premadonna?! I don't know for sure if he can carry the franchise without Shaq, but he's the last player in the NBA I'd call a premadonna. I wouldn't hang out with the guy if you paid me, but there's a big differance.

[RedskinsVision]

by no means does a "primadonna" equate to someone who dosen't work hard or is good at what they do. we all know kobe's talents are spectacular. but he is a primadonna for getting what he wanted.. and that's Shaq and Jackson outta there. a primadonna stands for a vain person and vain he is. he didn't want either of those 2 on the team or he would've bolted off to the Clips.. he put the Lakers in the position to decide between he and Shaq. and the reports of him asking the Clips to move some games to Anaheim where he lives closer to is also something a primadonna would do. i am NO Laker hater.. i posted b4 during the finals that i was happy for Shaq, Jackson and Kobe when they won those championships.. i value dynasties.. but the way this all ended u can now point to one man.. and that's Kobe. it's fitting how during Shaq's interview w/ ESPN last nite how he talked about how much love he has for Phil Jackson and Jerry West and how the FO treated them wrong.. when asked about Kobe he said he has NO opinion on him.. basically PC'ing his way out of talking bad. that shows how Shaq felt about him and we all know Kobe got Jackson to not return. only a blind Laker fan would sit there and talk about how wonderful Kobe is.

[LATrueRedskin]

Anyone hear about Kobes' request to the Lakers? He wants to play 12 games in Anahiem [?] because its closer to his house.

Apparently they are considering this...

Sounds like a primadonna to me....

[IowaSkinsFan]

I'm glad he's staying.....now he can have a look and see how hard it will be to win without the diesel and Phil around to share the load....not to mention he won't be burdened with that cumbersome triangle offense that is so antiquated that it has only won 9 NBA titles since 1991.

[CarMike]

So, when was kobe found innocent of rape?

I think its pretty arrogant for laker fans to just assume that he'll be found innocent of the charges pending. But then again...he is a wealthy athlete so he probably will be.

I'll make bet right here and now. The Heat will win more games than the lakers next year.

[IndianBaller27]

I like the Heat, I dislike Shaq, and I like Kobe. but I do agree he is a primadonna. He is going to end this great Laker dynasty because he wants the star of his team. He could've waited a few more years for Shaq to retire! He is selfish and loves attention. But I like him on the court. I like the way he plays.

[RedskinsDave]

There is soome serious arrogance on the part of both Kobe and the NBA teams to assume he'll be found not guilty.

[LATrueRedskin]

I like the Heat, I dislike Shaq, and I like Kobe. but I do agree he is a primadonna. He is going to end this great Laker dynasty because he wants the star of his team. He could've waited a few more years for Shaq to retire! He is selfish and loves attention. But I like him on the court. I like the way he plays.

And he probabaly could have won one or two more titles while waiting for Shaq to retire.

[IndianBaller27]

And he probabaly could have won one or two more titles while waiting for Shaq to retire.
Yeah if they learned to be friends and didn't hate each other anymore. The reason that they fell apart in the finals against the Pistons was because they didn't have that chemistry that they had 2 years before that, when they won the third title in a row. That was when Kobe didn't think he was the best player of all time.

[rskinsfan10]

I'm no Laker fan, but I would have taken Kobe over Shaq. As BC mentioned before, Shaq seems to get a free pass when it comes to his conditioning.

Kobe disputed all of the reports that he was behind Shaq and Phil leaving. I thought that his press conference was very respectful when their names were mentioned, unlike how Shaq acted as though Kobe didn't exist. People keep forgetting that it was Shaq that demanded a trade. What exactly were the Lakers supposed to do?

Also, I keep hearing people say that Kobe can't win a title without Shaq. Well, as I recall, Shaq has never won a title without Kobe either.

[CarMike]

From what I've read and heard...the reason Shaq demanded a trade was due to the fact that Buss didn't think enough of Shaq to let him know that Phil wasn't in the plans of the future. He told ESPN that he heard it while eating breakfast and watching SC.

There's the only problem I have with Shaq, and any other pro player. They think that the FO should run things thru them first before making decisions. Thats a bunch of BS if you ask me.

And Kenny...the reason for people saying Kobe hasn't won without Shaq is due to the fact that its harder to find another big man like Shaq. Its supposedly easier to find a "Kobe" type player than a "Shaq" type player.

Rather thats right or not I don't know. But thats the impression I'm getting...

[rskinsfan10]

MJ showed the world that you can win a title (6 in fact) without a Shaq type player. Kobe is the closest thing to MJ in the league right now, so I wouldn't dismiss his chances simply because Shaq is gone. The Pistons just won a title without a Shaq type player, defeating the team with the Shaq type player as a matter of fact.

[CarMike]

Yep, excellent points Kenny. Believe it or not...I'm kinda lookin forward to the next NBA season...and thats coming from someone who doesn't care a lot about the NBA.

[rskinsfan10]

Yep, excellent points Kenny. Believe it or not...I'm kinda lookin forward to the next NBA season...and thats coming from someone who doesn't care a lot about the NBA.

Should be interesting. With the Pistons winning it, it makes everyone believe that they have a chance to win it all.

[vegeta2364]

the Lakers have now gotten rid of the best executive in all NBA (J. West).. the best coach (P. Jackson) and now the best player (Shaq). Stephen A. Smith on SportsCenter last night said the Lakers are done for a long time.. 5th place in the conference at best. i just hope the Lakers fans realize what they've lost for a primadona.
actually tracy mcgrady is the best in the NBa at the moment

lets see lakers got lamar odom, caron butler, brian grant, and first round .. just
for shaq..? man.. miami got ripped off

[Death_Venom]

As BC mentioned before, Shaq seems to get a free pass when it comes to his conditioning. Kobe disputed all of the reports that he was behind Shaq and Phil leaving. I thought that his press conference was very respectful when their names were mentioned, unlike how Shaq acted as though Kobe didn't exist. People keep forgetting that it was Shaq that demanded a trade. What exactly were the Lakers supposed to do?
Also, I keep hearing people say that Kobe can't win a title without Shaq. Well, as I recall, Shaq has never won a title without Kobe either.

I could not AGREE MORE!!!

I live in California, I am ALSO a HUGE LAKERS FAN (BECAUSE OF KOBE BRYANT-NOT SHAQ). The main reason Shaq demanded a trade was because during a press conference a reporter asked Kupchak what is future regarding Shaq, and have you considered trading him? Kupchak only replied "Shaq will only be traded if Shaq demands it". At that time during the conference Kupchak was discussing about rebuilding the team more around Kobe's abilities.

Personally I have never liked Shaq, but I do respect his abilities. During the last 2 seasons Shaqs have become increasingly lazy, and arrogant. During the Detroit series (Finals) you could see how Shaq was getting worn out and beat going back across the floor, and offering little defense. I personally love the Shaq trade due to the fact that in California papers you hear alot whining from Shaq (in the papers & tv).

The Miami trade seems to be a fairly decent trade with Lamar Odom coming into his own, and som other very solid acquisitions. According to sources close to the Lakers Shaq had his agent sabotage other trade deals that were not his liking. Besides bear in mind that Shaq has maybe 2 more seasons left in him-his knees are going bad.

Lakers will be BACK in the PLAY-OFFS...............Mark My WORDS......... :devil2:

[Axegrinder]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10651006/
Kobe Bryant may be remaking his image off the court, but the Los Angeles Lakers guard reportedly is showing more of a nasty side on the court.
And a lot of the nastiness is directed at his teammates.

[IHATEDALLAS'82'87'91]

I surprised 9 other guys can squeeze onto the court with the size of Kobe's head.
:lol1: