Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard An ESPN article alleged Kobe Bryant made the Lakers less appealing to other star players. Of course, Dwight Howard was cited as a key example.
That aspect really isn’t groundbreaking.
Phil Jackson said Howard left for the Rockets because of Kobe, and reports at the time matched. There has been no shortage of articles on the Kobe-Dwight divide.
But Lakers president Jeanie Buss added a twist when she said, “Any free agent that would be afraid to play with Kobe Bryant is probably a loser, and I’m glad they wouldn’t come to the team.”
Howard, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:
“I didn’t leave LA because I was afraid of Kobe Bryant,” Howard said. “I went to a good situation for myself. I can’t change people’s opinions, but I did what I had to do for myself.”
Howard might have left Los Angeles, because of Kobe. It doesn’t mean he feared Kobe.
Buss’ attempt to frame the conversation as players being afraid to play with Kobe was a smart player on her part, but it’s not really the issue. Maybe teammates just don’t enjoy playing with Kobe, especially when he’s no longer good enough to lead a team to a championship.
Paul George said he didn’t avoid the Lakers due to Kobe, and so has Carmelo Anthony. But Howard didn’t go that far. He just said he didn’t fear Kobe.
In this case, the distinction likely matters.
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- 00maltliquor - Oct 28, 2014 at 8:55 PM
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Baiting article. He never said those words “I didn’t fear”. The context of what he said was much less controversial.
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- blogsk3tball - Oct 29, 2014 at 2:34 AM
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What about the elbow to Kobe’s face and proceeding trash talk.
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- sumkat - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:05 PM
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doesn’t fear him….just can’t stand him
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- apkyletexas - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:20 PM
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I’ll play with Kobe. I’ll even give Jeanie a discount – only $5 million per year – I’m such a big-hearted guy. No wait – Nash is getting $9 million for doing absolutely nothing, so I need at least that much.
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- asimonetti88 - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:18 PM
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As a Lakers fan, I couldn’t care less about Dwight Howard. It has been two years now. I’m not one to say “the media this or the media that” but they really need to move on from this.
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- ranfan12 - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:40 PM
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Probably wouldn’t under normal circumstances(maybe), but it’s too easy a chance to pass up given kobe’s current situation, and then the lakers-rockets game on the first night of the season. Someone who didn’t cover it would get fired lol
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- 22yearsagotoday - Oct 29, 2014 at 6:56 PM
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As usual, your take on the situation is superior.
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- tominma - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:48 PM
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WOW! Kobe has had a lot of run-ins with other players on the Lakers during his time there!
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- 22yearsagotoday - Oct 29, 2014 at 6:56 PM
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Cops!
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- beach305 - Oct 28, 2014 at 10:43 PM
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She comes across as a very clueless (as she stated) about the actual basketball side of the business. Everyone knows that they gave Kobe that contract was because after Howard bolting and the mess with the last two coaches, it was a good P.R. move.
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- fordmandalay - Oct 28, 2014 at 11:46 PM
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First he’d have to care in order to feel fear. And caring about his career is a problem he’s never had.
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- bkbell3 - Oct 29, 2014 at 1:58 AM
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What a bunch of crap.I’m not a fan of howard and koby is my guy but you,he and a lot of lakers fans are stupid. Howard is never going to be hakeem and who else is? The guy puts up 18 and 13 shooting 60% from the field and is a great defender. So he smiles and likes to have fun off the court, so did magic. What team wouldn’t want those numbers. There are many guys who scowl and act mean and don’t come close to his numbers. He is athletic but is not the most coordinated and agile or skilled guy in the nba. He is not a transcendent talent or a great leader etc. 99.9% of players that have played in the nba aren’t or weren’t either. Again koby is my guy but i’m getting tired of hearing about the out of this world work ethic and desire that only he and mj have. If that’s so then no one else including howard has it then why does howard get singled out. Koby is great but has his flaws that he never seemed to over come that hurt his team at times as much as his talent helped them win. Why do guys like chris paul and griffin etc get a pass for their lack of success just because they don’t smile and have fun off the court like howard.smh
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- divan22 - Oct 29, 2014 at 5:13 AM
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Yes, because it’s totally possible for a guy to be a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall of Famer while not “caring about his career.”
Idiot.
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- 22yearsagotoday - Oct 29, 2014 at 6:54 PM
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Why would you fear a guy much smaller than you, Dwight? Next time try and remember actions speak a lot louder than words. Kobe will be ready, but if you use your size advantage you should be able to kick his a$$.
