Lakers: Kobe's ego has reach an unprecedented level of inflated.

[midnightpulp]

Clearly he was trying to give the fans a show, I can't believe people actually think he's playing seriously lmao.

Missing the point.

Him giving a "show" all year is going to stunt the growth of your youth.

He should give a "show" through mentoring and helping them develop. You should be pissed. The NBA is an arms race and one bad year of development as a young player can ruin a career. Too many bad habits are being learned.

[Calispursfan11]

I refuse to judge the rooks under Byron and with Kobe shooting 30x per game.

So many possible scenarios for next season (cap space, Kobe retiring, free agency, maybe a competent coach with a system, top pick). The landscape of this Lakers team might change drastically. Right now the focus should be on tanking and nothing else.

If this is true, then Kobe is doing exactly what he should be doing. Genius.

[midnightpulp]

I refuse to judge the rooks under Byron and with Kobe shooting 30x per game.

So many possible scenarios for next season (cap space, Kobe retiring, free agency, maybe a competent coach with a system, top pick). The landscape of this Lakers team might change drastically. Right now the focus should be on tanking and nothing else.

More deflection. Them not learning just makes the implementation of a system and a new coach all that much harder. Why do you think teams that purposely tank for 3-4 years straight typically don't evolve? Philly has been tanking for a decade. Still in the same situation. Kevin Durant was instantly made the centerpiece of the Sonics/Thunder, and guess what, they were still a terrible team, but at least HE was the one doing the losing. They improved by 3 wins the next year, and then 27 the next. They got out of tanking mode in 2 quick years and that first year played a big role in KD's development. The Lakers are regressing. Worse than last year, with the rookies/young players learning nothing except bad habits.

You're just trying to find an excuse to not criticize your boy. My point is you even need him on the team to be a ty team. Lakers are still a top 3 worse team in the league running everything through Russell/Randle/Clarkson. No chess here. Kobe's just an egomaniac.

[Killakobe81]

I refuse to judge the rooks under Byron and with Kobe shooting 30x per game.

So many possible scenarios for next season (cap space, Kobe retiring, free agency, maybe a competent coach with a system, top pick). The landscape of this Lakers team might change drastically. Right now the focus should be on tanking and nothing else.

This.

[Killakobe81]

Such a predictable deflection. What use is Simmons (not guaranteed to be a game changer) going to be surrounded by piles of ? What Russell and Randle are going through is the worst climate I've seen from a development perspective. They're learning nothing this year.

You'd still be the worst team in the NBA giving Randle, Russell, and Clarkson the majority of the shots/role.

No excuse for Kobe, but you're too in love with that piece of garbage to see it.

Sad but true ...but Iwould still prefer that then letting Kobe chuck 25 plus shots.

[Killakobe81]

imagine ur jordan clarkson today, having a good game, but can't beat the worst team in the league because kobe is taking 25 shots

true.

[Killakobe81]

Seriously, though, if I'm a Laker fan, I'm probably cool with this..Kobe is arguably the worst player in the NBA, and Byron is unquestionably the worst coach, you won't find a better tanking duo..might as well let them lead the tank for the #1 pick..it may hurt the young players, but it's not like any of them have real potential

come on HH no potential is over the top ...

[midnightpulp]

This.

It's not about "judging the rookies," it's about letting them do the losing and learning "the hard way." Now they'll just be spectators in the Kobe Worship show every game. Development is crucial in the NBA. One lost year is huge, whether through injury or being stuck in a bad situation.

No Lakerfan should co-sign Kobe's play. It's an ego-driven show.

[Bynumite]

More deflection. Them not learning just makes the implementation of a system and a new coach all that much harder. Why do you think teams that purposely tank for 3-4 years straight typically don't evolve? Philly has been tanking for a decade. Still in the same situation. Kevin Durant was instantly made the centerpiece of the Sonics/Thunder, and guess what, they were still a terrible team, but at least HE was the one doing the losing. They improved by 3 wins the next year, and then 27 the next. They got out of tanking mode in 2 quick years and that first year played a big role in KD's development. The Lakers are regressing. Worse than last year, with the rookies/young players learning nothing except bad habits.

You're just trying to find an excuse to not criticize your boy. My point is you even need him on the team to be a ty team. Lakers are still a top 3 worse team in the league running everything through Russell/Randle/Clarkson. No chess here. Kobe's just an egomaniac.

Kobe's brain obviously operates on a higher frequency that the average man cannot grasp and understand rationally. Maybe that's your problem.

Have a nice evening Mid

[midnightpulp]

Kobe's brain obviously operates on a higher frequency that the average man cannot grasp and understand rationally. Maybe that's your problem. Have a nice evening Mid

Still can't bring yourself to criticize your hero.

Kobe fans really do have battered wife syndrome.

Read up on it, bro. Maybe you can get some help.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battered_person_syndrome

[spursistan]

Zach Lowe ethers a ty writer who is trying to downplay Kobe historical awfulness

[midnightpulp]

Lowe doing Lowe thangs

[Floyd Pacquiao]

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Isaiah Thomas is such a dumbass

[xellos88330]

I want him to keep playing tbh. Now the Lakers have a chance of becoming relevant again upon his departure.

[FkLA]

Isaiah Thomas is such a dumbass

Good . His at ude truly is a disgrace to the game. Diminishing skills are one thing but being an egotistical psychopath to the point where he's disrespecting his teammates is another. Didn't this talk about AAU for promoting exactly what he's doing?

Enablers like Scott, Mitch, the Buds family, etc are also a disgrace to the game.

[LkrFan]

Unequaled in NBA history, and as basketball fan, it sickens me.

Now that he's officially retired, he's using it as an excuse to chuck away even more (17 ing 3 point attempts!), and he knows he's untouchable from media and fan criticism because his season is now about "appreciating him one last time." He can go 0-50 and knows he'll still get fellated in the media. Take last game. He was awful. Took a bad game winning attempt, which the media didn't even talk about.

Lakerfan: "Give it a rest. This is his last season. Let him do what he wants. We're never going to see him play again."

"Letting him do what he wants" so fans can "appreciate" him means Randle and Russell lose an important year of development. They were afterthoughts Sunday and have been afterthoughts in this game (Kobe took more shots than both of them combined). Any Lakerfan should be outraged that Kobe's own ego is sabotaging that endeavor.

And media won't say a word about it. And Kobe knows it. There's also no way he retires early. He's looking forward to the city-to-city worship he'll get all season.

Disgusting.

Damn. Wow. I mean, . Any true Laker Fan wouldn’t be happy with like that.

I can't even that . We know he retiring, why keep placating him? We ain't even sniffing 3rd place in the Pacific Division let along making the play- I can't even type the full word out.

Love what he did for the franchise, but it is time for him to take a backseat to the kids. They need to all play 35mpg the rest of the season to jumpstart their growth and gain experience. Kobe's 20+ shots per game won't allow that to happen. Plus dip B Scott is enabling this instead of doing what is best for the franchise going forward.

I am back stateside, but I’m not buying NBALP until next year. I think you know why.

[K...]

The only other explanation, is that the Lakers fo knows the draft picks are trash/no interest to develop. Rather the Lakers see young players as an end to the next free agent or trade offer. Once the free agents come, then the role players, and the Lakers won't need youth when they can go back to buying talent.

[ElNono]

Unequaled in NBA history, and as basketball fan, it sickens me.

Now that he's officially retired, he's using it as an excuse to chuck away even more (17 ing 3 point attempts!), and he knows he's untouchable from media and fan criticism because his season is now about "appreciating him one last time." He can go 0-50 and knows he'll still get fellated in the media. Take last game. He was awful. Took a bad game winning attempt, which the media didn't even talk about.

Lakerfan: "Give it a rest. This is his last season. Let him do what he wants. We're never going to see him play again."

"Letting him do what he wants" so fans can "appreciate" him means Randle and Russell lose an important year of development. They were afterthoughts Sunday and have been afterthoughts in this game (Kobe took more shots than both of them combined). Any Lakerfan should be outraged that Kobe's own ego is sabotaging that endeavor.

And media won't say a word about it. And Kobe knows it. There's also no way he retires early. He's looking forward to the city-to-city worship he'll get all season.

Disgusting.

Why would they give a now? This has been calling them stupid to their faces for years, sinking the franchise and taking their money to boot too.

This is the very first year that very few lakerfan started to complain. And even the vast majority of those, when you push the issue, they still go to bat for him.

[Splits]

first, Nick Young gave his postgame interview and the team sounded "absolutely defeated"

Then Kirby strolls in, like he's having the time of his life...







This in' guy

[Kawhitstorm]

first, Nick Young gave his postgame interview and the team sounded "absolutely defeated"

Then Kirby strolls in, like he's having the time of his life...







This in' guy

Kobe is like the owners son who comes to work & treats everyone like shyt.

[DPG21920]

This is the most disgraceful in sports I have ever seen. I have never liked Kobe, but this type of behavior cements the fact I won't miss him or repsect him.

He's making a mockery of a once proud franchise, being the opposite of everything team sports stand for and using this season as his own personal playground.

He's literally turning the NBA into trash TV no better than The Kardashians or Housewives. It's bad for the game and just an absolute joke. I have no idea how his teammates don't just rip him to shreds.

[DPG21920]

Look at this :

[midnightpulp]

Damn. Wow. I mean, . Any true Laker Fan wouldn’t be happy with like that.

I can't even that . We know he retiring, why keep placating him? We ain't even sniffing 3rd place in the Pacific Division let along making the play- I can't even type the full word out.

Love what he did for the franchise, but it is time for him to take a backseat to the kids. They need to all play 35mpg the rest of the season to jumpstart their growth and gain experience. Kobe's 20+ shots per game won't allow that to happen. Plus dip B Scott is enabling this instead of doing what is best for the franchise going forward.

I am back stateside, but I’m not buying NBALP until next year. I think you know why.

Lkrfan gets it.

If Duncan was doing this at the expense of Leonard, I'd want him Old Yeller'd.

Front of the jersey, always.

[midnightpulp]

When Swaggy is subtly calling you out, you know it's bad Props to him for not toeing company/media line.