First Kobe Says He Wants Lakers To Trade Him, Now He Doesn't - What's Up Black Man?
NBA baller Kobe Bryant asked to be traded today after calling the team’s front office “a mess.”
“I would like to be traded, yeah,” Bryant told ESPN radio. “Tough as it is to come to that conclusion, there’s no other alternative..."
Hours later after talking to Laker coach Phil Jackson, Bryant backed off. "I always dreamed about retiring as a Laker... When Phil and I spoke, he was optimistic and determined that we'll both be back," Bryant told ESPN.
Bryant, who helped the Lakers win three consecutive NBA championships, has four years left on the seven-year, $136.4 million contract he signed July 15, 2004. That was a day after Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.
Bryant became infuriated when a Los Angeles Times columnist quoted a Lakers “insider” as saying it was Bryant’s insistence on getting away from O’Neal. Bryant also said he feels owner Jerry Buss misled him three years ago by telling him one thing and coach Phil Jackson something else about the team’s goals.
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Buss issued a statement saying:
“We are aware of the media reports. However, Kobe has not told us directly that he wants to be traded. We have made it very clear that we are building our team around Kobe and that we intend for him to be a Laker his entire career. We will speak directly to Kobe and until we do that, we will not comment publicly about this.”
This is getting old family. As die-hard Laker fans, we would much rather focus on building a new team and winning next year. Kobe is incredible - no doubt. It's time, however, that he steps up and becomes a true leader, not some whiny, self-centered prima donna.
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