Kobe’s Best 180 Ever Is a Sound Bite
By Ted M. Green | L.A. Confidential, Kobe Bryant, ColumnKobe Bryant has made a lot of acrobatic shots in his Hall of Fame career. But never as spectacular a 180 as this.
This was a 180 that Doctor J or Michael would be proud of.
Or the Flying Wallendas.
“I think he’s a terrific, terrific player,” Kobe said of Andrew Bynum.
Then came a bomb Iran only wishes it could produce.
“We’re a championship-caliber team when he’s in the lineup.”
After they pick themselves up off the floor, Laker fans should throw a party.
Kobe’s comments came hours after the Lakers learned that they’ve just become a donut, with a big hole in the middle, as Bynum will be out at least eight weeks with a dislocated kneecap that popped itself back into place but will need a minimum of two months to heal.
It also came just moments after Kobe had to take 44 shots to will the Lakers to a 123-121 win over a Seattle team they might have beaten by 20 or 30 with Bynum in the lineup.
An exhausted Kobe had to take so many shots to barely get the Lakers over the top against a team barely good enough to compete in the NBA nightly, he will now play the One-Armed Man in the next “Fugitive” remake, since his right arm by then will have fallen off from overuse.
Kobe saying the Lakers are a championship type team with Bynum stands in diametric contrast to his ranting into a tape recorder that the Lakers should trade the then-teenage Bynum for Jason Kidd. Or maybe it was Kid Rock, I can’t remember.
That was like in July. What an incredible difference six months makes.
During that time, Bynum, now barely 20, went from a project to a player to a force of nature. He was averaging 19 and 13 in January when he went down and a double double for the season. He was 11th in rebounding, 8th in blocks, 2nd in dunks to Dwight Howard and first on the list of candidates to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.
If the rest of January and beginning of February were anything like December through January 13, you wouldn’t have embarrassed yourself voting the young man onto the Western Conference All-Star team. No, not one iota of embarrassment.
But I’ll tell you this: If Tim Duncan is a 4 and Amare Stoudemire plays on the perimeter, good as he may be, then Andrew Bynum is (or was, for the time being) the most dominant true center in the paint, in the West.
No wonder the Great Skeptic, Mr. Bryant himself, is now a Bynum Believer.
Kobe is now more of a believer than the Monkees.
This brings a real silver lining to the disappointing (but not catastrophic) news that Bynum will miss about one third of the season.
The silver lining is that instead of opting out of his contract after next year, Kobe’s statement about “championship-caliber team” means he’s opting back in.
In to the Laker family he wanted to leave. In to the family he almost left.
Why would Kobe opt for anything other than finishing his career with the Lakers now that he has a franchise center he can enjoy a victory parade with by his own estimation?
So Kobe’s postgame comment was much bigger and more meaningful than the 48 points he dropped on the Sonics.
KB24… such a Flip Flopper, he makes John Kerry look decisive.
But more important, a Laker for life once again.
Thanks to the kid Kobe trashed, thereby ending any hopes Bryant may have entertained of being someone’s GM and talent evaluator one day. But I digress.
So mark it down, folks.
January 14, 2008, the night Kobe finally admitted, to his mostly adoring public, that the grass is indeed greener on his own side of the fence.
Ted Green is Senior Sports Producer for KTLA Prime News and a former sportswriter for the L.A. Times and National Sports Daily.
(Columnist’s Postscript (1.16, 8:14 pm): I am getting a lot of good– and also angry– E mails from Laker fans claiming that Kobe blasted Bynum last summer to inspire and motivate him. Good try, gang! I think it’s a nice theory, but a stretch longer than Bynum’s wingspan. This is what you call revisionist history! Re-inventing the truth. Kobe ripped Bynum last summer because he was frustrated, exasperated, at his wit’s end. Kobe truly thought the kid sucked (at that time) and that with his own athletic biological clock ticking, that he, Kobe, would have to wait WAY too long for Bynum to develop.
So Kobe was wrong.
Big deal! We ALL were! We ALL misjudged how long it would take Bynum to blossom and then explode. None of us thought it would happen at barely 20, Kobe included. So Kobe’s no guiltier than anyone else of mis-evaluating or misjudging what that timetable might be. But to suggest anyone owes Kobe an apology because he was so calculating and clever that he intentionally blasted Bynum to motivate him with those disparaging comments…I think that’s pure invention from Kobe fans who think he walks on water, which he does, but only on the court. To the extent Kobe’s criticism did push Bynum to work harder and get better, then it had the right effect, but it was not an intended one.
Kobe had no idea spouting into some guy’s tape recorder would become the cause celebre it did. If he wanted to personally inspire the kid, it wouldn’t have been in an emotional outburst to a fan in a mall parking lot! Today, Kobe may SAY he blabbed to inspire Andrew, but I believe he’s saving face. I believe Kobe reacted like a lot of humans do, emotionally and out of frustration, and spoke before he thought, like we all sometimes do. And now, by changing his mind, like we all do, too, Kobe is making amends, which is great for everyone.– tmg)
Discuss:
23 Responses to “Kobe's Best 180 Ever Is a Sound Bite”
- 1 Pingback on Jan 20th, 2008 at 4:19 am
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You truly are an ass, a talentless hack, we get it Kobe changed his mind.
And you did not need to use 642 words to say it.
I liked the article, and I’m even happier that Kobe is happy!
I agree with Mr. Dallas (though the name-calling was a bit mean) — a whole article to report on a couple of sentences? Really?
As far as the writing goes, the Monkees reference was inane and the John Kerry thing just perpetuates a silly campaign myth; even if it were true, “Flip Flopper” certainly wouldn’t be capitalized.
How did you get this job?
This article is really pointless.
So, journalists can change their minds, but a player can’t? Especially, when a player is simply announcing a fact that is reflected in the standings? With Phoenix’s loss to the Clippers, the Lakers are the number one team in the West. That sure sounds like a championship team to me.
After the tough win in Seattle, Kobe realizes that the journey to the top was a lot easier with Bynum, so he changes his mind, not on a whim, but halfway through the season.
I agree gk,the lakers look like a championship team to me as well especially with the progressing young center andrew bynum.It’s going to be a tough road ahead for the lakers without him.
I agree with kg the lakers are looking like a championship team, especiall with the progressing young center andrew bynum.It’s going to be a tough road ahead without him.
After last season and the infamous rant of Kobe in the parking lot. Bynum actually started to conditioning himself and started going to the gym more often. That means, he made sure his game would improve by practicing hard, unlike the first 2 years when he was with the team. His game is really good and already consistent every time they play. I’m one of those guys who did not want him to be traded to anyone except for Kevin Garnett. I’m pretty sure that even you Mr. Green did not expect him to be this good and may be also one of the writers criticizing Mitch Kupchak for drafting him and not trading him before.
Kobe sees all his teammates practicing hard and all of them are at the same page with him. They just don’t like to reach the playoffs anymore, but to wants to win the NBA title. This topic should have been settled already when the season started and when Kobe talked to Bynum. And in every game Kobe actions when he plays with Bynum speaks for itself.
Kobe has the right to change his mind like you have the right to write this article.
Well, I think a lot of people have changed their minds about Andrew Bynum. At the end of last season, not a lot of people saw this coming. Even the fromt office didn’t expect Bynum to improve this much this quick. I don’t think Kobe doubted Bynum’s potential, he just didn’t think Bynum was dedicated enough to show a drastic improvement within Bryant’s window of opportunity. In that parking lot video Kobe says something like “Mitch had the audacity to ask me how good Bynum is going to be in 10 yrs…” That’s what Kobe was worried about, he thought it was simply going to take too long for Bynum to get at the level he needs to be in order for the Lakers to be contenders. Thus, he wanted Bynum traded for pieces that can help win now. And most fans agreed because, YOU ALWAYS BUILD AROUND YOUR BEST PLAYERS WINDOW.
However, Bynum took it upon himself to hire a personal trainer, worked his butt off, and came in this season exponentially better.He surprised everyone, even the coaching staff. This changes everything, and Kobe realizes that now. There is no shame in what Kobe is doing. It would have been a worse offense if he was too stubborn to see that Bynum has given this team an unexpected lifeline. Besides kobe, I think the fans, the media, & even the coaching staff have done a 180 on Bynum, and the Lakers.
you heard of yao? bynum most dominant center in the west? dont think so…
Yao was not as dominant in his early years as Bynum was in this his third season. I’d take Bynum and the Lakers over Yao and the Lakers anyday. (except for the next 8 weeks;Yao gets the vote right now.)
yao has reached the ceiling of his potential. and bynum can play at any pace whereas yao has difficulty on fast pace games…
Actually, ytd, Bynum has definitely been the best center in the NBA not named Dwight Howard, if you don’t consider Duncan a center.
It’s interesting how its turned out. At the end of next year, certainly by the end of the year after that, when Bynum will be 22, I think there will be very little question he is the most valuable Laker.
Owen,
I still think that Bynum will need Kobe as much as Kobe will need him. I’d say they bring equal value, even if it’s completely seperate things they bring to the game. Neither could do what they do, with out the other. Kobe goes to Andrew more than anyone else on the Laker squad.
Tootsie…. the “Monkees” reference was about their song; I’m a believer. They are a band from the 60’s or 70’s. Ted’s just old!
The “bombshell” isn’t really that Kobe likes Bynum now. Its what he said on TV (National(?)TV,after the Memphis game)! He wished Andrew well and to get better soon, because “we are a championship team with him”, he said to the reporter.
That was Kobe’s first real testament to how much Bynum means to the Lakers and how far they have come as a team! The assumption being that if we are a “Championship Team” now, why would he ever consider forcing a trade or leaving the Lakers???
Why can’t this journalist see this for what it is…
Bynum, yeah, had or has potential, which is why he was drafted so high… (7footer, quick leaper,incredible wingspan, incredibly soft hands, upside regarding footwork, and makes free throws…)
o.k, that being said, he was (or still might be) a child in a mans body (that is still growing) — the key word here is child. Kobe didn’t want to waste his time, nor his last years of being a Laker with a child…
Kobe’s comments obviously ignited a flame inside this youngster and all the reasons why the Laker’s front office chose him are now showing, perhaps 2 years before expected.
So, journalist sir — I beilieve you owe Bryant a quick, and unequievical (sp) “THANK YOU” !!
And we ALL owe Mitch Kupchack an apology. I’ll be the first though to give him praise, cause right ’bout now (pending this injury - how ironic!) he looks like a genious.
This was shocking to me that Ted Green emailed me directly with his response… I like it, but want to “open forum” his reply to me:
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Hey Uptempo: I liked your E mail a lot, but I will suggest another way to look at part of the story. I do think, like a lot of people, you are reaching to think that Kobe made his comments about Andrew over the summer TO LIGHT A FIRE UNDER HIM!!! lol…That is what you call revisionist history! Or re-inventing the truth to fit your own ideas. Kobe ripped Bynum last summer because he was very frustrated, exasperated and at his wit’s end. Kobe truly thought the kid sucked (at that time) and that Kobe would have to wait WAY too long for the kid to develop. So Kobe was wrong. Big deal! We all were!!!. We ALL misjudged how long it would take the kid to explode. Kobe’s no guiltier than anyone else of mis-evaluating or misjudging what that timetable would be…but to suggest anyone owes Kobe an apology because he was so calculating and clever that he intentionally blasted Bynum to motivate him with those disparaging comments…I think that’s just an invention. Today, Kobe may SAY he did it to inspire Andrew to save face, but I don’t believe that for one second. I believe he reacted like a lot of humans do, out of frustration, and spoke before he thought!
Great E mail, liked it a lot!
Thanks!
Ted Green
Senior Sports Producer, KTLA Prime News
sportshubla.com
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My respones:
Honestly, Ted… come on now — how can you twist my statements??
I didn’t say, nor imply that Kobe “intentionally” said what he said to ignite a fire under Bynum !! I implied that Bynum PULLED HIS COLLECTIVE HEAD OUT, and matured in an expedited (fast forward, really fast) manner as a RESULT of those comments made during the off season… Therefore, THANKS KOB!
Yeah, he is now backpeddling, but do you really think this whole thing would have just ’started working’ — chemistry, showing up every game, no more underachieving… Kobe’s teamates, on their own would have shown him, or proved to him that they are worthy proffesional basketball players? I believe Kobe’s comments lit a collective fire under everybody’s A$$…
And regarding “Kobe thinking he (Bynum) sucked at the time of the comments; HE DID !!!
So I guess then, let me ask you so kindly… What do you think it was that made Bynum wake up so suddenly and realize his potential?
I DON’T BELIEVE THAT HE SAID IT TO INSPIRE HIM… I believe he said it to get the heck out of Laker land, and away from the Buss brigade.
Maybe you should re-read my first post…
Hit me up again if you like, it was fun!
Ted had a great response to me and restored his credibility — I’ll keep a look out for your collumn more often. To be honest, I can’t remember for the life of me how I found this inbound link… Was it from Yahoo Sports or ESPN…? I’m sure it’ll come to me… At any rate, I’ll remember the url. Take it easy!
Morre B. “up-tempo-style”, cause I like it…
the lakers wrapped up the #1 spot in the west which shows how great of a team they’ve become. i really believe that they can make it to the nba final this season, and if andrew bynum returns they have achanct to win it all.
i love mechea he’s my baby and will always be regardless of the type of relationship we have.
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