Is there anyone out there that actually likes Kobe Bryant?
 

Shaq moved clear across the country to get away from him.

Phil Jackson retired so that he wouldn't have to deal with his planet-sized ego anymore.

Karl Malone has said that he won't return to the Lakers after comments Kobe made about him in a radio interview.

Even Ray Allen has said that Kobe is selfish and appears to have no comaraderie with his team-mates.

Is Jerry Buss the only person in the world who actually likes Kobe Bryant (other than Kobe himself)?

Don't forget his own teammate, Lamar Odom, said (I paraphrase): "We need Kobe to foul out some more so we can start winning some games."
I've been a Kobe-hater for a few years now. So...ummm...sorry my answer would be no.

What goes around comes around
 

I do love the way Kobe always wants the ball last in tight games, and then takes a 29 foot jumper (just like tonight against Phoenix) just to bounce it off the backboard. Keep on taking those shots Kobe, and you'll be the most popular guy in Los Angeles.

I also love the way he singlehandedly led the demise of one of the most successful NBA dynasties of the last several decades.

I'm a Spur fan, so this post was clearly biased.

Kobe, even Jesus doesn't love you.


How damning is that?

he's a great one on one player, but i wouldn't want him on my team. my answer is "NO"

Halx likes him!


But uh, other than that, no not really.

yea nimbletoe beat me to it

i was gonna say just wait for hal to spot this thread

Yes, I like Kobe. But of course I'm biased by being a Laker fan.

I've said this multiple times here, but according to Kobe haters, anything he does is WRONG. If he takes the initiative and shoots 30 shots a game, he's a ballhog. If he gets another triple double (yep he had one last night, that's his second in a row and I think 3rd this year), then he's only doing it because people are complaining about his shots. Well what is it?

As for him taking 29 foot shots in crunch time, I have NO problem with that. Why? Because he is the best clutch player in the game and has made those shots. If Lamar Odom shot that three last night at the buzzer instead of passing it to Kobe, I would have been pissed. That's Kobe time, period.

The Shaq trade was great for the Lakers and it needed to happen. The natural transistion to Kobe being the driving force on the Lakers was going to happen regardless and this was the best way for it to happen.

Look at Shaq's numbers this year:
20 PPG, 11 RPG, 3 APG
Look at Kobe's:
26 PPG, 7 RPG, 7 APG (with a dissapointing 40% FG)

Kobe averaging MORE assists without Shaq???

I think McGrady just surpassed being the best clutch shooter in the game.

Tonight VS the Spurs, the Rockets had scored 4 points in the 4th quarter and were down by 10 with 45 seconds left. McGrady raises up for a three, a four point play, another three, then another three! 13 points in 40 seconds. Best since Reggie Miller's 8 point 8 second deal.

i like kobe, the player. he competes hard every night. his intensity is unmatched, although it can be a little misguided. in his early years, he tried too hard to mimmick jordan..ie. his fadeaway and mannerisms. sure, he will struggle without shaq, but i think he welcomes the challenge.

Im sure he welcomes that alot more than sittin behind bars...

It still dissappoints me the faith the Laker office put behind this guy.

Too smug for my liking.

I have been an avid Laker fan since the days of Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Magic, Worthy and Coop and I am disgusted with the immatutity of the current crop of baby's in the entire NBA, especially the Lakers. If Shaq wasent pouting then Kobe was. It's me,me,me,me and last of all ME. Yes, little boy, we know that you are talented and have been spoiled ever since grade school when your natural abilities first showed promise. We understand that your physical skills are incredible even for a professional athlete, but for fucks sake can't you GROW UP. The way you act would get you fragged in the Army or thrown overboard at sea at 4:00am in the Navy, and when you were discovered missing they would not search for you. You would not survive on some of the real TEAMS that have played the game. The key word there being teams. If you get assists only because you get yourself in such impossible situations that you have to pass off, does that make you an assist leader? And speaking of leaders, how many times did you read about Kareem, Larry, The Chief, Dr J or any of the other real superstars putting thier dicks in front of the team. Sure, like all of us idiot men thay had thier indiscretions, but never like your team distracting circus act. I guess the reason that I am so angry is that I am so dissapointed in you and what you and Shaq have done to my Lakers. Rant over.

He's a little punk with lots of talent in my opinion. Shaq and Phil Jackson seem like pretty easy guys to get along with, so I put those fallouts all on Kobe.

I think that Kobe is absolutely amazing skillwise as a basketball player, I'd almost go as far as to say that his skills are comparable to Jordan's, but the man in my opinion is a complete basketcase and is the complete oposite of a team leader. So my answer is no, for he needs to tie some lose ends together his game as well as in his personal life if he wants to gain my respect.

Personally, I find him to be a selfish, whining little bitch, with alot of game, but no clue how to be what he could be.

He's a spoiled kid who's about to hit bottom. It'll be real interesting to see if he can grow up and prove himself over the next few years.

when u say dr J u talking about michael jordan? i always thought Dr. J referred to phil jackson

Dr. J = Julius Erving

Michael Jordan's legacy is very safe the way Kobe's career is going. Jordan had a tremendous ego himself, but I don't recall him ever strongly clashing with teammates or coaches.

I just watched Barkley interview Kobe on TNT, then after the interview they (Magic, Barkley, Kenny Smith and the host dude) talked about Kobe, ie., his teammates don't know him, nobody knows him, he doesn't reach out to people, the community, etc...then Barkley mentioned that LA's owner, Jerry Buss, and is it the GM? Mitch Kupchak could have told Kobe, No we're not giving up Shaq and we're not getting rid of Phil Jackson.

So, what's the deal here? Was it Kobe who wanted Shaq & Jackson gone, was it Buss who wanted those guys gone, or was it Kupchak? Who is responsible for Shaq in Miami and Jackson retired?

One of the most talented players EVER to play the game, but I hate the guy as much as I have ever hated an athlete.

How can you try to call out Malone for "dishonoring" your wife when you just finished cheating on her?! What a douche bag...

err...you should read 'the jordan rules'
details the supposed 'clashes' he had with fellow teammates - even to the point he punched one of them

but i love MJ

anyway, back on topic, kobe is very talented yet his fundamental flaw is...well...quite simply...he's a little bitch

im not a laker or kobe fan in any way, but i used to kind of silently side with the people who said he wasnt that selfish. i mean how can somene with that many assists be completely selfish, right? wrong. im a heat fan so i listened to the lakers heat game on christmas (i was driving), so i was forced to notice how greedy he was. i heard the name kobe at least 1000 times, it sounded like a broken record. i just didnt quite pick up on it when i would watch him