2006-12-27 04:04:57 · 10 answers · asked by masteryoda 3 in Sports ➔ Basketball
this was Back in 2003....
The transcript of Kobe Bryant's interview with ESPN's Jim Gray:
GRAY: What was your reaction to Shaq saying the Lakers are his team, and everybody knows it?
BRYANT: It doesn't matter whose team it is. Nobody cares. I don't, Karl [Malone] doesn't, Gary [Payton] doesn't, and our teammates and the fans don't either. There's more to life than whose team this is. But this is his team, so it's time for him to act like it. That means no more coming into camp fat and out of shape, when your team is relying on your leadership on and off the court. It also means no more blaming others for our team's failure, or blaming staff members for not overdramatizing your injuries so that you avoid blame for your lack of conditioning. Also, "my team" doesn't mean only when we win; it means carrying the burden of defeat just as gracefully as you carry a championship trophy.
GRAY: Do you consider Shaq to be a leader?
2006-12-27 04:05:21 · update #1
BRYANT: Leaders don't beg for a contract extension and negotiate some 30 million [dollars] plus per year deal in the media when we have two future Hall of Famers playing here pretty much for free. A leader would not demand the ball every time down the floor when you have the three of us [Malone, Payton, Bryant] playing beside you, not to mention the teammates you have gone to war with for years -- and, by the way, then threaten not to play defense and rebound if you don't get the ball every time down the floor.
GRAY: Shaq says that you have not been a team player. Is he right?
2006-12-27 04:06:18 · update #2
BRYANT: That's ridiculous. I have been successfully sacrificing my game for years for Shaq. That's what Phil [Jackson] wanted me to do, so I did it. Last year Phil told me Shaq was not in physical condition to carry the trust of our offense, so he asked me to do it. But then he saw Shaq was getting upset that the team wasn't running through him, so Phil asked me to pull back and I did. This year is no different; my role is whatever Phil wants it to be. Period.
GRAY: Through out the preseason, your leg and conditioning has been lagging. Are you in the proper shape to start the season?
BRYANT: My knee is not strong enough to play yet. I know it. When it is I will play.
GRAY: Does that mean you will miss the opener [Tuesday] night and other games?
2006-12-27 04:06:44 · update #3
BRYANT: I probably won't play tomorrow night or until I'm ready. But I don't need Shaq's advice on how to play hurt. I've played with IVs before, during and after games. I've played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball. I don't miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn't that serious in the first place.
GRAY: Kobe, Shaq said if you didn't like what he had to say you can opt out and leave next season. Will you leave the Lakers?
2006-12-27 04:07:14 · update #4
BRYANT: I won't make that decision until the end of the season. I told Shaq last year that I was planning on opting out. He knew before anyone. I told him out of respect for what we have been through together. I thought he should be the first to know. The fact that he acts like this is such a big shock is a mystery to me. If leaving the Lakers at the end of the season is what I decide, a major reason for that will be Shaq's childlike selfishness and jealousy.
GRAY: Do you feel Shaq has been supportive in regards to your legal situation?
2006-12-27 04:07:33 · update #5
BRYANT: He is not my quote unquote "big brother." A big brother would have called to lend his support this summer. I heard absolutely nothing from him. I spoke to Devean [George], Rick [Fox], Mitch [Kupchak], Phil, and our owner Jerry Buss. And Shaq's own Uncle Jerome called and left three messages. Other teammates like Derek [Fisher], Mark [Madsen], and [Stanislav Medvedenko] left messages as well. Opponents called like [Chris] Webber, [Mike] Bibby, and many others. So did a lot of coaches. Michael Jordan, who didn't have my home phone, tracked it down to lend his support. So did Tiger Woods. But yet from my so-called big brother, I heard nothing.
GRAY: Why not resolve this behind closed doors? Why is this so public?
2006-12-27 04:07:58 · update #6
BRYANT: I asked Phil on Sunday [yesterday] to say something to calm this situation down before it boiled over. But he backed away, so now here we are. I have been a bigger person every time something happened with Shaq, and I don't expect this to be any different. But somebody in this organization had to speak up, because his unprofessionalism hurt us last year, and I don't want it to hurt us this year.
2006-12-27 04:08:15 · update #7
kobe is right! shaq doesnt have the right to say all those crap he said! so kobe is totally rightttttttttttttttttt
2006-12-27 05:15:59 · answer #1 · answered by 1@k3r$6!r1c#!c 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am a Kobe fan. but I like him only for his skills
But to be as fair as I could, I think Kobe's right.
Shaq is getting old, Kobe's getting to be a better basketball player than Shaq, I think we could all agree on that.
Last second shot should be set up for Kobe sense Shaq can't make the foul shots, if he get jealous of that, then why doesn't he make the free throws?
Kobe also mentioned that Shaq is out of shape sometimes.
I agree with that, I think he is a bit overweight, some coaching staff of the Lakers said he was uncoachable, terrible footwork, freethrow percentage and few other things.
Shaq does want everything to be revolved around him, Kobe supported that early on, but he was getting to be an all-star! He can't pass everytime down the floor, he is not a selfish point guard like Nash. He does need to score! Shaq needed to support that, they should even up the scoring. even if he didn't want that, he should let Kobe have some of the glory. And even if Kobe was selfish, you have to do your job, theartening the team of not doing defense, that is wrong on so many levels.
If you ask me, I think Kobe is right. But I'm sure Shaq has a side too, and there is no real right or wrong in this kind of argument.
2006-12-27 12:42:46 · answer #2 · answered by Ling T 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Honestly I think Shaq is over rated. He's selfish, greedy, and a bit immature. He also loves attention. Yes, I agree that the media made the situation worse than it was, but I also think Shaq contributed to worsening the situation as well. I'd have to say Kobe, even though neither of them was necessarily in the right to begin with. I just REALLY can't stand Shaq.
2006-12-27 12:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by *CaRpE*DiEm* 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Shaquille O'Neal is a pompus, arrogant, dickwad, that hasn't proven anything.
He isn't a true athlete, he can't put up 40 point, 50 point, 60 point games and make it look easy.
He just sits his fat *** under the net the whole game, hoping he isn't fouled because he can barely keep his free throw percent at even.
Kobe Bryant is a pompus, arrogant, dickwad also, but he has made me take into his side, so I think Kobe was "right."
2006-12-27 22:17:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kobe
2006-12-27 12:16:44 · answer #5 · answered by AL IS ON VACATION AND HAS NO PIC 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
KOBE IS RIGHT shaq has no right to talk if he cant speak fast enough and shaq is old kobe better so he wins the argument
2006-12-27 12:07:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
shaq
2006-12-27 12:50:49 · answer #7 · answered by gogogo 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They're both egotistic athletes. No one's right in that situation. The media made it even worse.
2006-12-27 12:08:31 · answer #8 · answered by yblur 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
wow what a great question , I cant find a great answer to match.
how can anything be so boring
2006-12-28 04:37:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
shaq
2006-12-27 12:09:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋