This morning, Kobe Bryant dropped the biggest bombshell of the season by asking to be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers. In an interview on Stephen A. Smith's radio show, Kobe said that he wants out of LA and there's nothing the Lakers can do to change his mind."I would like to be traded, yeah," Bryant said on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. "Tough as it is to come to that conclusion there's no other alternative, you know?"Yesterday, we told you about Kobe lashing out at the Lakers on a radio show in LA. What I find interesting about this whole thing is how quickly the guy seems to have changed him mind. Ever since Ric Bucher came out and revealed that Kobe would like to be traded if the Lakers don't hire Jerry West, Bryant has been adamant about wanting to stay in a Laker uniform for the remainder of his career. But now, suddenly, he says that he's lost all trust in the organization and that he absolutely wants to be traded.
Bryant, interviewed by Stephen A. Smith, was asked if there was anything the Lakers could do to change his mind?
"No," Bryant said. "I just want them to do the right thing."
One thing Kobe has going for him is Shaquille O'Neal's support. Shaq said that he believes Kobe "100 percent" about his role in the infamous O'Neal trade of 2004. O'Neal says that he knows that Kobe had nothing to do with his departure.
Is this the end of the Kobe era in Los Angeles? According to Bryant, it is.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 5)
1.
To the Laker Fans! "OUCH!". That hurts!
Posted at 2:22PM on May 30th 2007 by DM
2. And for the first time in history , we are gonna hear alot of longtime die-Hard Kobe lovers chanting, " Kobe Sucks! "
My, my, this is gonna be fun.
Posted at 2:29PM on May 30th 2007 by DM
3. If Kobe gets traded to the Suns I will give up watching basketball. There was an article in the Phoenix paper today with an insinuation about trading Amare for HIM????? We do not want a one man team here. Go away Kobe.
Posted at 2:35PM on May 30th 2007 by Joyce Jacobs
4. I is was a big laker fan and i will be rooting for Kobe. He deserves another ring. I'm now questioning the Laker organization my trust in them has been damaged. I don't know what to think.
Posted at 2:40PM on May 30th 2007 by Phil
5. Go away Kobe. We do not want you in Phoenix. Article in the Phoenix paper today insinuated that they would consider trading Amare for Kobe. I would stop watching basketball if that ever happened. The Suns team plays together and do need a Kobe that thinks he is the team. I think he should retire along with Jackson and get out of the picture.
Posted at 2:44PM on May 30th 2007 by Joyce Jacobs
6. I think what made him change his mind is he found out who the "inside" source is that told the LA Times that Kobe forced the Shaq trade.
If it was someone in upper management then I imagine that make him rethink is desire to stay in LA.
Posted at 2:49PM on May 30th 2007 by Tim
7. Joyce, What does the "RAG" know? They haven't reported anything truthful in a long time. They just report rumors for sales. The Suns invested too much money with Stoudemire on the bench with injuries. Besides, Stoudemire is young Bryant is about to retire in a few years. The Suns are team players and Bryant won't fit in that type of team. He's got to be the HotDog without a bun.
Posted at 3:07PM on May 30th 2007 by Tom
8. A $20 million a year cry baby.
Posted at 3:08PM on May 30th 2007 by Jim
9. If I were the Lakers, I would drop Kobe like a hot potato. The guy is the quintissential overpaid, egotistical, NBA brat. He doesn't know how to pass a basketball. As a consequence of his "give me the ball" attitude (a la Keyshawn Johnson), his team has gone from a world champion to a has-been loser.
Posted at 3:16PM on May 30th 2007 by Steve
10. good riddance Kobe!
Posted at 3:20PM on May 30th 2007 by loretta
11. Joyce, Since when does the "RAG" ever hold any water? They haven't reported any facts in a long time now. They just tell rumors for sales. The Suns have invested too much money in Stoudemire sitting on the bench with injuries. Now he's healthy earning his pay. Besides, Stoudemire is young and Bryant is about to retire in a few years. Bryant is not a team player like the Suns team. He could not fit in the Suns uniform. Bryant needs to be the HotDog without the bun.
Posted at 3:21PM on May 30th 2007 by Tom
12. i'd oppose trading Amare for Kobe and would probably root for the lakers if that ever happened. Kobe is a cancer those people who say he is second to only Jordan are out of your damn minds..Jordan never requested any trades or made demands..he had faith in his team no matter how bad they were..he had LOYALTY, some nights he would defer to Scottie in the 4th Quarter..You ever see Kobe let Lamar get going in the 4th when the game is on the line? No.. Kobe Bryant isn't even on the same level as Michael Jordan, to discount guys like Magic, Larry and Oscar Robertson and say Kobe Bryant is ahead of these guys, is blasphemy..there are about 20 players in the history of the league that I would take before having Bryant (Not counting the Centers either) I have to give Bryant credit though for causing a stir over the booring playoffs even though I still like watching Lebron and the Pistons..this should be an interesting summer.
Posted at 3:28PM on May 30th 2007 by FDANAYSAYERS
13. i IS TIRED OF ALLS YOUS FANS. YALL DONT KNOW ME! YALL DONT KNOW KOBE. I IS HURTIN INSIDE OK! I'M HEADIN FOR COLORADO N DO ME A WHITE GIRL! AND JIM ROME KISS MY BLAK BEHINE.
Posted at 3:41PM on May 30th 2007 by KOBE
14. kobe has a right to be a little bit upset. the team has done a spectacularly bad job of building a team around him. you hear a lot about danny ainge, kevin mchale, and isiah thomas, but let's put mitch kupchak on the list of incompetent general managers, too.
Posted at 3:49PM on May 30th 2007 by ray
15. and can some admin delete this retard's post? (mike #13)
Posted at 3:50PM on May 30th 2007 by ray
16. wherever Kobe goes i'll root for. and if Kobe's not a team player, how come he leads the Lakers is assists also? he would have way more than he does if the rest of the garbage on the laker's actually make their shots when kobe passes it to them
Posted at 4:04PM on May 30th 2007 by Al Mamaril
17. wherever Kobe goes i'll root for. and if Kobe's not a team player, how come he leads the Lakers is assists also? he would have way more than he does if the rest of the garbage on the laker's actually make their shots when kobe passes it to them
Posted at 4:08PM on May 30th 2007 by Al
18. Mike#13--Its not that serious. Its just a sport for entertainment. Down boy. We'er in a new era were racial slurs are no longer considered cleaver. Kobe may one day learn how to boost more and boast less. I like the Jerry West idea. Kobe needs one Duncan type superstar to get to that next level. Its inevitable, superboy will soon evolve into superman.
Posted at 4:19PM on May 30th 2007 by Eldridge
19. Kobe to Seattle for Ray Allen and #2 pick in the draft.
Posted at 4:22PM on May 30th 2007 by Mike
20. Boo Hoo The $130 million dollar baby got mislead.Screw Kobe and trade his selfish Ass and get a few team players without the Prima Donna Attitude.He is a great player but basketball is a team game.Maybe he should run track!! Or get a real job you egotistical jerk!
Posted at 4:22PM on May 30th 2007 by Marfa