‘I’m a Laker’
In the midst of recent speculation, including that of Coach Jackson, that he would finish his NBA career elsewhere, Bryant states that he doesn’t plan to play for anyone but the Lakers.
A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships. I’m a Laker, man. I’m a Laker for better or worse…How many times do I have to say that? Dude, I bleed purple and gold.
Hard cap on minutes
Lakers coach Scott says that Bryant will have a hard minutes cap this season. The cap is an attempt to preserve Bryant, who has had his last three seasons cut short by injuries. Scott:
I know Kobe’s a competitor and he’s going to play as many minutes as you want him to play. I’m also a competitor, so I want to win and I know having him on the court gives me the best opportunity to win.
Bryant, O’Neal clear the air
Bryant and O’Neal discuss their relationship on O’Neal’s The Big Podcast with Shaq. O’Neal and Bryant were teammates on the Lakers from 1996 to 2004, winning titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002. However, a constant feud between the two led to O’Neal’s eventual departure from the team in 2004. O’Neal:
It’s time to clear the air, because I’ve said many times that we were the most enigmatic, controversial, most talked-about, dominant one-two punch. I just want people to know that I don’t hate you, I know you don’t hate me. I called it today a ‘work beef,’ is what we had.
Bryant:
Here’s the thing — what we did, our disagreements, what made those things special is we said them to each other’s face. We didn’t go behind each other’s back and whisper to our teammates about this, that and the other, because that does nothing but create friction and it’s cancerous to the team.
Has nightmares about Finals loss
During an appearance on Bleacher Report Radio, James says he still feels the pain of his 2015 NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors:
I just don’t feel like you ever move on from losing in the Finals. You feel like you’re right there. You have a great opportunity to do something special … I guess there’s nightmares, now, about them, about situations throughout the games, and it’s always replaying in my head. You know, it was definitely difficult, and I’m getting better every day, but you know, it takes quite a while for me to get out of the funk.
Last season with Lakers
Bryant tells general manager Kupchak that the 2015-16 season will be his last season with the Lakers. Bryant is 36 years old, and will be entering his 20th season in the NBA. Kupchak:
I think first and foremost, he’s on the last year of a deal. There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don’t think there will be. A year from now, if there’s something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then. I talk to him from time to time … and he is recovering. He’s running. He’s getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he’s much closer to the end than to the beginning.
‘A colorful player and man’
In a brief statement, Buss reflects on Hundley’s contributions to the Lakers.
Hot Rod was a colorful player and man, and an important member of the early Lakers teams in the 1960s and therefore the history of our franchise. We’re saddened by his passing, and send our condolences to his family.
‘One of the best play-by-play announcers in the game’
Upon hearing the news of Hundley’s death, West gives this statement:
I am saddened by the news of the passing of my longtime friend, Rod Hundley. I first met Rod when I was 18 and he encouraged me to attend West Virginia University. We were Laker teammates and never lost contact…Rod was not only a great basketball player, but one of the best play-by-play announcers in the game. He will be missed by all those he touched through his legendary career as will his colorful story-telling.
‘Legendary’
Mourning Hundley’s death, Miller gives this statement:
Hot Rod was the voice of the Utah Jazz for 35 years and his voice was synonymous with Jazz radio. The expressions he used throughout the game broadcasts are legendary. He had the unique ability to make the game come to life so that you felt as though you could see what was happening on the floor when listening to him call the games…Rod was a very special talent and will be missed by our family as well as Jazz fans everywhere. Our thoughts and condolences are with the Hundley family.
‘We don’t play hard all the time. And that’s a problem.’
After the Mavericks’ loss to the Phoenix Suns, Carlisle rips into his team. He said the team didn’t show up in the first half of the game and that was flat-out embarrassing. The Mavs are 8-8 since the All-Star break. Seven of those losses have been decided by ten or more points.
This is a Dallas Mavericks hard-play problem, all right? We don’t play hard all the time. And that’s a problem…It’s pretty clear that’s where our inconsistency is, and we’ve got to get better. We’ve got to be a more together team. I believe that we can do it. We did it in the second half, but it’s work. It takes effort. It takes effort in the locker room, it takes sacrifice, and we’ve got to be willing to do those things.
Interested in front office position
Iverson says he is interested in working within the team’s front office.
I would like to be even in that war room. Even if they don’t go with my decision or whatever, just to have an opinion and putting out what I think and trusting the organization to do what’s right.
Their fight. Their fight. The fight in a guy. I’m the biggest [Russell] Westbrook fan I think there is. You know what I mean? Because he reminds me so much of myself as far as his heart and laying it on the line night in and night out. This is a guy who’s going to bring it every single night.
36 points against Bulls
Westbrook talks about the game against the Chicago Bulls. Westbrook had 36 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, including one to Morrow for a 3-pointer in the final minute, helping the Thunder hold off Bulls 109-100.
We did a good job of learning from our mistakes. The first time we played them, I had a chance to hit Serge [Ibaka] on a kickback [when] two guys was on me. Tonight, same situation — two guys on me. I kicked to A-Mo and trusted my teammate and he knocked it down, so it was good.
Publicizes referee calls
For the remainder of the season and throughout the playoffs, the NBA will release play-by-play reports of all referee calls and relevant no-calls in the final minutes of close games. Each play is reviewed by a senior basketball operations manager or senior referee manager. The reports will include grades for each play and whether or not the call was correct. The NBA’s Mike Bantom:
We tried to come up with a system that would allow us to provide some insight into our process and set a criteria that would allow us to be more standardized and more consistent…I think this is a solution that puts them [referees] in a much better light, doesn’t hide the fact that they are human and will make mistakes, but also points out the fact that the overwhelming majority of the calls that they get correct.
Upset at finishing second
James expresses his displeasure at finishing second in the voting for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award:
It sucks. It definitely sucks, though, finishing second. Who wants to finish second?
James averaged 6.8 defensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 block per game for the season, but he says the most important aspect of his defensive ability is his versatility:
I guard everybody on the floor. I don’t know if it’s one player in NBA history that’s guarded 1 (point guards) through 5 (centers). It’s over with now, but it’s cool.
Sports Illustrated cover
In an issue of Sports Illustrated, Durant expresses his frustration at playing in James’ shadow:
I’ve been second my whole life. I was the second-best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I’ve been second in the MVP voting three times. I came in second in the Finals. I’m tired of being second. I’m not going to settle for that. I’m done with it.
Durant says he uses his frustration as a means to self-improvement:
I don’t watch a lot of other basketball away from the gym. But I do look at LeBron’s box score. I want to see how many points, rebounds and assists he had, and how he shot from the field. If he had 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, I can tell you exactly how he did it, what type of shots he made and who he passed to.
On their friendship:
People see two young black basketball players at the top of their game and think we should clash. They want the conflict. They want the hate. They forget Bird cried for Magic. A friend was getting on me about this recently, and I said, ‘Calm down. I’m not taking it easy on him. Don’t you know I’m trying to destroy the guy every time I go on the court?’
Glad he wasn’t traded
After demanding a trade in May, Bryant now says he is glad he wasn’t traded from the Lakers:
I’m happy to be here. My guys and I — we have such a tight bond. Business and basketball sometimes can cloud things, but when you get here in your element and you’re around your teammates and just having a good time with them and thinking about them and not about the business of the game, that’s when it becomes fun.