Kobe Bryant (G.O.A.T.)

[The NZA]

Anonymous NBA agents: Kobe Bryant is killing the Lakers

 

 

ESPN has dropped a feature on Kobe Bryant in the latest issue of ESPN: The Magazine, and it's a doozy. The title "Is Kobe Bryant the reason for the Los Angeles Lakers' downfall?" seems misleadingly non-committal, as author Henry Abbott clearly believes that the answer is an unequivocal "yes." The piece—which is heavy on the use of agents as anonymous sources—details the Lakers collapse since winning the NBA Finals in 2010, and lays most of the blame at the feet of one Kobe Bean Bryant.

 

The basic thesis is that Bryant's megalomania has precluded any free agents of note from signing with the Lakers in the past few years. Now that Bryant is not a top five (or even a top 40, but we'll save that topic for another day) NBA player, nobody that doesn't have to is willing to put up with his bullshit anymore. The piece details the numerous free agents who refused to sign with the Lakers in large part because of Bryant, but what's really breathtaking is just how many agents are willing to absolutely pummel Bryant.

 

...

 

On a basic level, the premise is quite simple. Kobe Bryant is undeniably an asshole to his teammates, and has a well-known penchant to kill them in the press both on and off the record. That was worth putting up with when being his teammate guaranteed a shot at a title, but now that Kobe Bryant is basically as good as Dion Waiters, they'd rather work with literally anybody else.

 

 

 

Jim Buss tho

 

[APANCHALYPSE FOREVER]

This is asinine and completely true at the same. When the Kobe era is finally over, the Lakers are gonna be bad for a very long time. He's assured of that.

[the division of joy]