Kobe Interview with ESPN's Jim Gray

scoobz0202 · 10-28-2003, 12:12 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1648431

Quote:

The transcript of Kobe Bryant's interview with ESPN's Jim Gray:

GRAY: What was your reaction to Shaq saying the Lakers are his team, and everybody knows it?

BRYANT: It doesn't matter whose team it is. Nobody cares. I don't, Karl [Malone] doesn't, Gary [Payton] doesn't, and our teammates and the fans don't either. There's more to life than whose team this is. But this is his team, so it's time for him to act like it. That means no more coming into camp fat and out of shape, when your team is relying on your leadership on and off the court. It also means no more blaming others for our team's failure, or blaming staff members for not overdramatizing your injuries so that you avoid blame for your lack of conditioning. Also, "my team" doesn't mean only when we win, it means carrying the burden of defeat just as gracefully as you carry a championship trophy.

GRAY: Do you consider Shaq to be a leader?

BRYANT: Leaders don't beg for a contract extension and negotiate some 30 million [dollars] plus per year deal in the media when we have two future Hall of Famers playing here pretty much for free. A leader would not demand the ball every time down the floor when you have the three of us [Malone, Payton, Bryant] playing beside you, not to mention the teammates you have gone to war with for years -- and, by the way, then threaten not to play defense and rebound if you don't get the ball every time down the floor.

GRAY: Shaq says that you have not been a team player. Is he right?

BRYANT: That's ridiculous. I have been successfully sacrificing my game for years for Shaq. That's what Phil [Jackson] wanted me to do, so I did it. Last year Phil told me Shaq was not in physical condition to carry the trust of our offense, so he asked me to do it. But then he saw Shaq was getting upset that the team wasn't running through him, so Phil asked me to pull back and I did. This year is no different; my role is whatever Phil want it to be. Period.

GRAY: Through out the preseason, your leg and conditioning has been lagging. Are you in the proper shape to start the season?

BRYANT: My knee is not strong enough to play yet. I know it. When it is I will play.

GRAY: Does that mean you will miss the opener [Tuesday] night and other games?

BRYANT: I probably won't play tomorrow night or until I'm ready. But I don't need Shaq's advice on how to play hurt. I've played with IVs before, during and after games. I've played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball. I don't miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn't that serious in the first place.

GRAY: Kobe, Shaq said if you didn't like what he had to say you can opt out and leave next season. Will you leave the Lakers?

BRYANT: I won't make that decision until the end of the season. I told Shaq last year that I was planning on opting out. He knew before anyone. I told him out of respect for what we have been through together. I thought he should be the first to know. The fact that he acts like this is such a big shock is a mystery to me. If leaving the Lakers at the end of the season is what I decide, a major reason for that will be Shaq's childlike selfishness and jealousy.

GRAY: Do you feel Shaq has been supportive in regards to your legal situation?

BRYANT: He is not my quote unquote "big brother." A big brother would have called to lend his support this summer. I heard absolutely nothing from him. I spoke to Devon [George], Rick [Fox], Mitch [Kupchak], Phil, and our owner Jerry Buss. And Shaq's own Uncle Jerome called and left three messages. Other teammates like Derek [Fisher], Mark [Madsen], and [Stanislav Medvedenko] left messages as well. Opponents called like [Chris] Webber, [Mike] Bibby, and many others. So did a lot of coaches. Michael Jordan, who didn't have my home phone, tracked it down to lend his support. So did Tiger Woods. But yet from my so-called big brother, I heard nothing.

GRAY: Why not resolve this behind closed doors? Why is this so public?

BRYANT: I asked Phil on Sunday [yesterday] to say something to calm this situation down before it boiled over. But he backed away, so now here we are. I have been a bigger person every time something happened with Shaq, and I don't expect this to be any different. But somebody in this organization had to speak up, because his unprofessionalism hurt us last year, and I don't want it to hurt us this year.

Auasome...

kq76 · 10-28-2003, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scoobz0202
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1648431

Auasome...

Awesome indeed! It doesn't sound like 2004 will bring another Lakers championship.

I wonder if he consulted with his attorneys before doing this interview. I don't think it was a very smart move.

Skipaway · 10-28-2003, 12:42 AM

O'Neil is indeed very very childish.

"Just ask Karl and Gary why they came here. One person, not two. One."

"I want to be right [in the regular season] for Derek, Karl and Gary.''

"the full team is here." (while Bryant was away)

"Everybody knows that. You [media] guys may give it to [Bryant] like you've given him everything else his whole lifetime, but this is the Diesel's ship. So ... if you ain't right [physically], don't be trying to go out there and get right on our expense. Use the people out there, then when you get right you [can] do what you do."

He talks like a five-year-old.

Bryant sounds much more mature with good reasonings. Not sure what kind of person Bryant really is though.

marc · 10-28-2003, 12:48 AM

I can't stand either of them so this is great for me! lol

Dargone · 10-28-2003, 12:58 AM

Wow, I'd say they don't get along...

marc · 10-28-2003, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dargone
Wow, I'd say they don't get along...

Yea good call lol

Crapshoot · 10-28-2003, 02:00 AM

jim gray= mediot.

Karros270 · 10-28-2003, 02:08 AM

Anyone else just loose all respect for Jim Grey after that interview he did with Pete Rose at the World Series a couple of years ago? Ever since then I've never been able to have any respect for anything else he's done.

mh2365 · 10-28-2003, 06:04 AM

Shaq may be a child but at least he isn't raping anyone. Hard to side with Kobe. oh wait excuse me allegededly raping anyone.

Skipaway · 10-28-2003, 06:10 AM

For the Lakers, it might be the best if it becomes Payton's team.

miami_fan · 10-28-2003, 08:21 AM

Well both of these players are childish. But I agree with Shaq to an extent (yes it pains me to say that) I think that Malone and would have been more likely to signed with the Lakers if they only had Shaq than if they only had Kobe. I think that the Lakers are a better team when they run the offense through an in shape O'Neal (I know it has been awhile since we saw him in shape) than it does through Kobe. The whole Shaq/Kobe feud is getting kinda old personally. I am looking forward to the end of the season just so they can go their own separate ways!

Joe Shlabotnick · 10-28-2003, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mh2365
Shaq may be a child but at least he isn't raping anyone. Hard to side with Kobe. oh wait excuse me allegededly raping anyone.

Is Everyone who is charged with a crime deemed guilty in your eyes? Or just Lakers? Or just.. what?

I know! Let's get rid of the court system, and just have national votes on guilt or innocence, without really hearing the full evidence.

Skipaway · 10-28-2003, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by miami_fan
But I agree with Shaq to an extent (yes it pains me to say that) I think that Malone and would have been more likely to signed with the Lakers if they only had Shaq than if they only had Kobe.

That's not what Shaq said.

"One person, not two. One." He's not comparing himself with Bryant, but saying he himself is bigger than he and Kobe combined.

Malone sure would not sign with any team without a decent center though.

woody5254 · 10-28-2003, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipaway
For the Lakers, it might be the best if it becomes Payton's team.

I agree with this. At least you won't hear about it being his team if he does take over.

Sad thing is that neither Shaq or Kobe realize how good they have it, having the other on the team.

miami_fan · 10-28-2003, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipaway
That's not what Shaq said.
"One person, not two. One." He's not comparing himself with Bryant, but saying he himself is bigger than he and Kobe combined.

Malone sure would not sign with any team without a decent center though.

That is essentially what I was getting at

I believe that they both signed with the Lakers moreso because Shaq is there than Shaq and Kobe being there or Kobe being there by himself. I guess it has to do with the belief that a good big man is more important than a good little man (unless your name is Jordan

)

TC Dale · 10-28-2003, 09:55 AM

True leaders lead by actions, and not words. And this season, neither of them will do much of it.

Like stated on the talk shows, radio and TV, both of them are right. Kobe is a me first kind of player, wants to win it all by himself, and Shaq is a lazy fat sluggard that should come to camp fit and ready to go by EXAMPLE.

I always thought if someone got in Shaquille's head and got him to realize that a in shape , lean and mean Shaq would just dominate the sport, you would see the Lakers run off a string of titles......with or without Kobe.

It will be fun to watch the Lakers this season. Wow, and I am old enough to remember Los Angeles as a REAL sports town....

miami_fan · 10-28-2003, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TC Dale
[I always thought if someone got in Shaquille's head and got him to realize that a in shape , lean and mean Shaq would just dominate the sport, you would see the Lakers run off a string of titles......with or without Kobe.

[/B]

I have heard a lot of folks say that Karl Malone was that guy

EagleEye_0 · 10-28-2003, 03:41 PM

Yeah, that Kobe and Shaq, terrible players. They've only won three of the last four titles with Fisher, Horry, Fox and bunch of other mediocre crap supporting them.

miami_fan · 10-28-2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EagleEye_0
Yeah, that Kobe and Shaq, terrible players. They've only won three of the last four titles with Fisher, Horry, Fox and bunch of other mediocre crap supporting them.

Terrible players?! Nahhhh.... Great players but also childish, out of shape, selfish........

EagleEye_0 · 10-28-2003, 04:05 PM

Miami, that was sarcasm.

As for them being selfish, If I had the skill of Kobe or Shaq and my choices of who to pass the ball to were the same choices Shaq and Kobe have had, I would probably be a selfish player as well. Out of shape, yes, Shaq shows up out of shape. But by the time the playoffs come around he has been in shape with the exception of last season. This is something he needs to work at obviously.

10-28-2003, 12:42 AM	#3
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	O'Neil is indeed very very childish. "Just ask Karl and Gary why they came here. One person, not two. One." "I want to be right [in the regular season] for Derek, Karl and Gary.'' "the full team is here." (while Bryant was away) "Everybody knows that. You [media] guys may give it to [Bryant] like you've given him everything else his whole lifetime, but this is the Diesel's ship. So ... if you ain't right [physically], don't be trying to go out there and get right on our expense. Use the people out there, then when you get right you [can] do what you do." He talks like a five-year-old. Bryant sounds much more mature with good reasonings. Not sure what kind of person Bryant really is though. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

10-28-2003, 12:48 AM	#4
marc Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,505	I can't stand either of them so this is great for me! lol __________________

10-28-2003, 12:58 AM	#5
Dargone Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Interwebs Posts: 2,862	Wow, I'd say they don't get along... __________________ I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken -- and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.-Margaret Mitchell

10-28-2003, 02:00 AM	#7
Crapshoot Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: watching: DArwin's missing link in action Posts: 3,112	jim gray= mediot. __________________ Senior Senor Member of the OOTP Boards Pittsburgh Playmates- OTBL

10-28-2003, 06:10 AM	#10
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	For the Lakers, it might be the best if it becomes Payton's team. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

10-28-2003, 02:08 AM	#8
Karros270 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,392	Anyone else just loose all respect for Jim Grey after that interview he did with Pete Rose at the World Series a couple of years ago? Ever since then I've never been able to have any respect for anything else he's done.

10-28-2003, 06:04 AM	#9
mh2365 Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: louisville Posts: 14,941 Infractions: 0/2 (101)	Shaq may be a child but at least he isn't raping anyone. Hard to side with Kobe. oh wait excuse me allegededly raping anyone.

10-28-2003, 08:21 AM	#11
miami_fan Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Panama City, FL Posts: 152	Well both of these players are childish. But I agree with Shaq to an extent (yes it pains me to say that) I think that Malone and would have been more likely to signed with the Lakers if they only had Shaq than if they only had Kobe. I think that the Lakers are a better team when they run the offense through an in shape O'Neal (I know it has been awhile since we saw him in shape) than it does through Kobe. The whole Shaq/Kobe feud is getting kinda old personally. I am looking forward to the end of the season just so they can go their own separate ways!

10-28-2003, 09:55 AM	#16
TC Dale Global Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4,983	True leaders lead by actions, and not words. And this season, neither of them will do much of it. Like stated on the talk shows, radio and TV, both of them are right. Kobe is a me first kind of player, wants to win it all by himself, and Shaq is a lazy fat sluggard that should come to camp fit and ready to go by EXAMPLE. I always thought if someone got in Shaquille's head and got him to realize that a in shape , lean and mean Shaq would just dominate the sport, you would see the Lakers run off a string of titles......with or without Kobe. It will be fun to watch the Lakers this season. Wow, and I am old enough to remember Los Angeles as a REAL sports town.... __________________ ----------------------------------

10-28-2003, 03:41 PM	#18
EagleEye_0 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,426	Yeah, that Kobe and Shaq, terrible players. They've only won three of the last four titles with Fisher, Horry, Fox and bunch of other mediocre crap supporting them.

10-28-2003, 04:05 PM	#20
EagleEye_0 All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,426	Miami, that was sarcasm. As for them being selfish, If I had the skill of Kobe or Shaq and my choices of who to pass the ball to were the same choices Shaq and Kobe have had, I would probably be a selfish player as well. Out of shape, yes, Shaq shows up out of shape. But by the time the playoffs come around he has been in shape with the exception of last season. This is something he needs to work at obviously.