Byron Scott says Kobe Bryant is serious about winning and Dwight Howard isn’t
Oct 27, 2014, 10:00 PM EDT
Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant The Dwight Howard era in Los Angeles was a disaster on practically every level. The team fell short of expectations during the season, they were swept out of the first round of the playoffs and Howard didn’t get along with Kobe Bryant. He left for Houston in free agency after one season.
There are lots of theories as to why the most talented big man in the NBA didn’t work out with the Lakers, but the most common one is that Howard’s lighthearted attitude clashed with Bryant’s ultra-serious personality. New Lakers head coach Byron Scott agrees with that. From the LA Daily News‘ Mark Medina:
“My outside perspective is Kobe is a real serious guy and wants to win championships,” Scott said. “I don’t know if Dwight is that serious about it. I know No. 24 is and that probably was the clash.”
Half of that is absolutely true. As has been documented in countless places, Bryant has a psychotic desire to win. It’s what drives him, and it’s what makes him one of the greatest players in the game’s history. But characterizing Howard as “not serious about winning” because he lacks that singular, obsessive focus is unfair. It’s possible to be serious about winning and also enjoy having fun.
Howard struggled in the 2012-13 season with the Lakers in large part because he came back too early from back surgery that was supposed to keep him out through December. He was clearly a shell of himself physically. His differing approach from Kobe didn’t help things, but if he had been healthy, things would have likely worked out better. It just wasn’t a good fit given the circumstances.
-
- khadeemw - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:02 PM
-
All i know is that dwight is gonna buss some laker ass 2morrow
-
- enigma2742 - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:04 PM
-
IF HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING HE SHOULD HAD TAKEN A PAYCUT
-
- tomass1947 - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:17 PM
-
First thing he did take a pay cut, a huge one, about 30% of what he could of made, please tell me what difference there would be in the team if he’d taken another 7mil off, stop trying to blame his pay, the draft picks wasted on Nash and 9mil a year for 65 games has played a much larger role
-
- therealhtj - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:27 PM
-
No one’s that serious about winning. Except maybe in San Antonio, and Kawhi is about to end that streak.
-
- realtalk108 - Oct 27, 2014 at 11:00 PM
-
Does anyone know when this idea of players taking mess money in order to win started? I remember it being talked about when LeBron joined Miami but not sure if it was prevalent prior to then?
-
- realtalk108 - Oct 27, 2014 at 11:01 PM
-
*Less money
-
- blogsk3tball - Oct 27, 2014 at 11:44 PM
-
After the last lockout the owners started brainwashing the public through their media outlet ESPN, in preparation for the upcoming TV and lockout.
-
- tomass1947 - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:10 PM
-
Howard wasn’t a good fit under any circumstances, he’ll never win a championship with any team, certainly not with Houston
-
- worldbfree4me - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:31 PM
-
Why must the #Lakers continue to defend Kobe? The piece in ESPN said this would be the case. Just StFu and play ball!
Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy® Note 4.
-
- femdimes - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:33 PM
-
Byron Scott wants to talk about people not being serious about winning in the same year that he aims to take record low 3s
-
- truehooper1421 - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:15 AM
-
The hell does the amount of 3 pointers his team shoots have to do with his desire to win? Every team doesn’t have to play like its 2K you know. There was basketball before the 3 point line.
-
- ranfan12 - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:46 PM
-
Quote from Mr. Scott
“”If you address it, the you’re kinda buying into it or feeding into it a little bit””
lol
-
- teabone413 - Oct 27, 2014 at 10:55 PM
-
career underachiever = dwight howard
-
- krishna5014 - Oct 27, 2014 at 11:34 PM
-
Dwight is more like Shaq. He will win if he has another “Kobe” playing with him.
-
- daddyghi - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:52 AM
-
a back-up-Kobe perhaps. but an Ego-Maniac-Kobe? i dont think so.
-
- ranfan12 - Oct 28, 2014 at 2:29 AM
-
Well James Harden is calling himself the best SG in the game right now. Too late lol.
-
- truehooper1421 - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:17 AM
-
Dwight is NOTHING like Shaq. Do your research. Shaq was goofy and had fun but he was an absolute BEAST on the court. When it came time to win he was just as serious as Kobe. That’s why they won together.
-
- ProBasketballPundit - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:51 AM
-
Normally I’d agree with you but Shaq came to every new season dozens of pounds overweight. And Dwight was a beast in the playoffs last year. That loss wasn’t on him. So maybe the trend is changing with Dwight.
-
- grumpynbafan - Oct 27, 2014 at 11:59 PM
-
MOOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEEEEE ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
- toycannoni - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:04 AM
-
meh….much to do about nothing
what else can byron say
he’s stuck with kobe struggling to break 500 and howards on a playoff bound team in houston
both players got what they wanted and they get to go head to head in the opener tomorrow night
actions speak louder than words….no need to talk anymore….we’ll see who came out better starting tomorrow night
-
- daddyghi - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:50 AM
-
i know Lakers/ Kobe fans out there will hate this but man, the Lakers are done! Kobe’s done! Yes, he will score tons of points in a given night, but that’s about it. Lakers will never win another championship again not until Kobe retires.
-
- nickjackalson - Oct 28, 2014 at 4:04 AM
-
Duwight “the most talented big man in the NBA” Howard should have dominated for years by now..
Davis,Drummond and these other cats caught up quickly
Dwight should have taken a certain page out of Kobe´s book
daddyghi may just be right, Kobe will not go out winning, but so is Dwight,
and at least Kobe is trying
-
- truehooper1421 - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:21 AM
-
Dwight did dominate, as much as he could in Orlando. Reality is, he isn’t as good as people want him to be. He is under 7′ and 265 is big, but it isn’t unheard of. Drummond has similar size and athleticism. Cousins has similar size but way more skills. etc. He doesn’t have the physical attributes of Shaq to be truly dominant with his lack of skills and footwork.
-
- sailbum7 - Oct 28, 2014 at 8:57 AM
-
Kobe’s drive and desire to win can get a team fired up. I think that the emotion and leadership that Kobe brings can be the difference between winning and losing games that are close going down to the wire. Even if Kobe himself is not the one that pulls it out, his ability to get others fired up can cause others to play beyond themselves and pull a game out.
-
- truehooper1421 - Oct 28, 2014 at 9:23 AM
-
“his ability to get others fired up can cause others to play beyond themselves and pull a game out”
When has that ever happened? and if it did happen how would you know if another player is fired up becasue of Kobe?
-
- rjthakid - Oct 28, 2014 at 10:16 AM
-
Stop trying to sell this nonsense that “He has an epic will to win and others just don’t stack up!”. As if everyone has a problem BUT Kobe Bryant. It’s everyone else’s fault. They don’t want to win! Kobe’s awesomeness intimidates them! No one can match his INTENSITAAAAAH!
Sorry, not buying it. Kobe is an egomaniacal jerk. He’s an all-time great player, but a terrible, terrible leader. A great leader doesn’t alienate teammates because they don’t have the same will to win. That helps no one. Instead he motivates his teammates and spurs them on to get the most out of them. He inspires. His passion and will is infectious, not an obstacle.
Oh, and Scott needs to shut up. Seriously. These comments make Scott come off like a jelly-backed kiss up.
-
- musician0785 - Oct 28, 2014 at 11:18 AM
-
“A great leader doesn’t alienate teammates because they don’t have the same will to win.”
Guess you never heard of Michael Jordan before….
-
- mogogo1 - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:14 PM
-
There are some huge differences between Jordan and Kobe in that regard, though. Jordan could be awful to guys during practice (Kukoc being just one example) but guys still loved hanging out with him. Golfing, his famous card games, etc. And it’s that other social side that is pretty much totally lacking from Kobe. If he had that it would take some of the edge off and serve him well. But that’s just not who he is.
All that “Be like Mike” stuff was more than just an ad slogan–Jordan truly has a charisma that attracts people. Kobe is a much more introverted person and simply doesn’t give off that vibe. He’s fabulous to watch play the game, but you never get the feeling he’d be a ton of fun to hang out with afterwards.
-
- rjthakid - Oct 28, 2014 at 2:02 PM
-
Sooooo you’re saying that alienating teammates is ok because Mike did it?
Again, being a great player doesn’t mean you’re a great leader. They are two completely different things. There are players who were fantastic leaders and only ‘good’ players (Chauncey Billups comes to mind).
Kobe can’t get a star to come play alongside him in the league’s most prestigious, despite being a Top 5 All-Time shooting guard.
“I’ve had a lot of clients in the last five years, good players, who didn’t want to play with Kobe,” says an agent who has had numerous NBA stars. “They see that his teammates become the chronic public whipping boys. Anyone who could possibly challenge Kobe for the spotlight ends up becoming a pincushion for the media. Even Shaq.”
Kobe has repeatedly thrown his teammates under the media bus. He does it a LOT. That just isn’t good leadership, regardless of what Mike did.
-
- musician0785 - Oct 28, 2014 at 4:47 PM
-
Im saying plp are tryna blast Kobe for doing the same thing the praise MJ for…..name me a star that would’ve played next to kobe for the cheap……i’ll wait…..matter of fact name me a player that went and played with lebron while in their prime for the cheap….you cant….you wont…. funny how that quote you used was from an agent without the cajones to say who he was…..and Cp3 didnt have a problem coming to play with kobe……paul george AND melo have both come out and said they wouldnt have had a problem with it……guess you convienently forgot about those quotes
-
- musician0785 - Oct 28, 2014 at 4:50 PM
-
you dont need to be a great leader to win….as a matter of fact its overrated…..who is the team leader of the spurs? Pop……anybody consider Dirk a great leader?….didnt think so….Lebron? not on the court, dwade and bosh’s stats went down significantly when they came to play with him……
-
- zacksdad - Oct 28, 2014 at 12:03 PM
-
Ok, this article just sucks. The title and the article states the Byron states “Dwight is not serious about winning”. Yet reading the quote from Byron Scott says “I don’t know if Dwight is that serious about it”. I may not be an English major, but those statements are not the same. Scott says he does not know, but the this author decides to read between the lines that Scott states the Howard is not serious.
-
- dablakdrphil - Oct 28, 2014 at 6:55 PM
-
Kobe haters love saying “Kobe wasn’t a great leader” but the man won 2 rings POST SHAQ…yeah, missed me with that.
As for the Kobe/Dwight situation. Everyone blames Kobe for him leaving but the blame is on Mitch and Jim who thought it was a great idea to hire D’antoni over the legendary zen master that is Phil Jackson..
That right there was the biggest mistake because if LA was serious about keeping Howard long term then they should’ve did whatever he asked to keep him in a Laker uniform…regardless it’s over with he’s in HOU and Kobe is back with LA…
