Yep, I just felt some sympathy for the dude after reading this. I think the people that say he's a loser or unappreciative or whatever should read what I found. Its a quote from an old article. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Reportedly, it was guard Richard Hamilton's willingness to stand up to Jordan that precipitated his being traded to the Pistons last summer. As a leader Jordan proved more tormentor than mentor. Many Washington players got the business end of a Jordan harangue, but he designated second-year forward Kwame Brown as the whipping boy, referring to him, as reported by The Washington Post, as a "flaming ******." A source told SI that Jordan ritually reduced Brown to tears in front of the team. Brown, whom Jordan took with the first pick in the 2001 draft, showed flashes of brilliance, but his confidence was lacerated by a player who was once his idol.</div>
the reason why the lakers took kwame is that he's a guy who wants to play the game...jackson is going to make him a better player. Jordan was a bad coach and didn't give Kwame much of a chance, but it'll change come this season...he's going to blossom (pardon my gayness) into a much appreacited player in the nba
For those who question if Kobe might be too hard on Kwame as well...I think Kobe will take him under his wing. In fact I think Kobe might do that for just about every person on the roster in an effort to "blossom" as a leader. He know's that the tough love MJ gave KB2 (Kwame) didn't work and so he's smart enough to take a different approach. I agree that Kwame will be much better this year, as will Lamar Odom. I think Kobe's assists will go up- as will FG%. Its looking to be a good year for the Lakers.
Kobe knows what to do with Kwame. He was in a similar situation in a sense. He came into the league fresh out of HS, he had doubters, he knows how Kwame feels. Jordan never felt that, therefore I think Kobe is going to handle Kwame well.
Rocking his high school number again. Hopefully it gives him the confidence to start playing with the same dominance he played with when he was in high school.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe knows what to do with Kwame. He was in a similar situation in a sense. He came into the league fresh out of HS, he had doubters, he knows how Kwame feels. Jordan never felt that, therefore I think Kobe is going to handle Kwame well.</div> Just like he handled Shaq well huh... Although I think this is Kobe's year to start on a new slate, so maybe he just CAN handle Brown... I see another Kobe being superior to Mike thing going on now. Who knows if Jordan wasn't doing it to help Brown. HE was the one who wanted to pick him. Jordan probably wanted to make him tougher mentally, maybe Brown just wasn't ready for it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Just like he handled Shaq well huh... Although I think this is Kobe's year to start on a new slate, so maybe he just CAN handle Brown...</div> Why? Why do you start these flame wars? No one mentioned Shaq in here, why do you have to bring him up? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I see another Kobe being superior to Mike thing going on now. Who knows if Jordan wasn't doing it to help Brown. HE was the one who wanted to pick him. Jordan probably wanted to make him tougher mentally, maybe Brown just wasn't ready for it.</div> I believe Kobe will be superior to Mike in this situation for one simple reason. Kobe knows what it's like coming straight out of HS, something Mike didn't.
Kobe and Jordan will be in totally different situations dealing with Brown. Like KB8 said Kobe does know what it is like, and He's a player around the same age that can relate to him whereas Jordan was more of a "father figure." Yes it was Jordan who picked Brown as the #1 in that draft, but his failure to make an immediate impact and/or improvement may have been a cause to why Jordan handled the situation he did. People started questioning his draft selection and he had no one else to take it out on but Kwame. We're all running on speculation anyways, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Last year was when they traded Shaq but this is the year where we will really see our future.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Just like he handled Shaq well huh... Although I think this is Kobe's year to start on a new slate, so maybe he just CAN handle Brown... </div> Shaq was big bro, Kobe was little bro.... Kobe gets to be big bro this time around ... so no, this situation is completely different. As far as Kwame's impact, well, I still have my doubts but I have to concede that this trade is warming up to me a little bit. At the very least, the Lakers have some size on the team now. However, if Kwame fails to put up double digit points and doesn't even approach double digit boards, you better believe there will be an uproar in L.A. and Kwame will wish he was back in DC.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Just like he handled Shaq well huh... Although I think this is Kobe's year to start on a new slate, so maybe he just CAN handle Brown...</div> Kobe was straight from high school, I didn't realise it was his job to take Shaq under his wing and show him how to win in the NBA. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I see another Kobe being superior to Mike thing going on now. Who knows if Jordan wasn't doing it to help Brown. HE was the one who wanted to pick him. Jordan probably wanted to make him tougher mentally, maybe Brown just wasn't ready for it.</div> Nobody questioned that Jordan wanted to help Brown. He just went about it the wrong way. I bet you Mike probably feels that he should have dealt with Kwame differently. Kobe seems to be softer then Jordan and well, its not about him being superior, its about him knowing how it is coming from High School. Jordan doesn't know how it is coming straight out of school to the NBA.
ok- some of the supidest things i've ever head on Justbball.com have been said in this thread 1.<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Just like he handled Shaq well huh... Although I think this is Kobe's year to start on a new slate, so maybe he just CAN handle Brown...</div> - Can't beleive you compared Shaq and Kwame's situations to eachother. They are completely different. 'Nuf said. 2.<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe seems to be softer then Jordan </div> - Speechless. 3. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe Kobe will be superior to Mike in this situation </div> - Why did we HAVE to bring in MJ into this conversation as well as Shaq??? The one smart thing said in this entire thread coming up.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">However, if Kwame fails to put up double digit points and doesn't even approach double digit boards, you better believe there will be an uproar in L.A. and Kwame will wish he was back in DC</div> - Too true. If Kwame doesn't meet high expectations in LA he's going to take some major heat. If he thinks the pressure in Washinton was high, think about how it's going to feel being a key to the hopes of the Lakers ressurection. No one really cared about the Wizards, only that MJ was on it. The Lakers are one of the biggest most marketable and watched teams in all of sports. Maybe going to Washington first WAS good for him and hopefully it provided him with the tougness to deal with not only his teammates, but the media as well...and lets not forget Jack Nicholson.
i hope kobe will be a good teacher and example to kwame in terms of his competitiveness and work ethic. phil on the other hand hopefull will be able to handle and teach kwame some discipline--the way he handled kobe in his early years.
Ya i also felt bad for Kwame after what MJ told him, that can really kill someones confidence, hopefully he does well in L.A.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">ok- some of the supidest things i've ever head on Justbball.com have been said in this thread 1. - Can't beleive you compared Shaq and Kwame's situations to eachother. They are completely different. 'Nuf said. 2. - Speechless. 3. - Why did we HAVE to bring in MJ into this conversation as well as Shaq??? The one smart thing said in this entire thread coming up.... - Too true. If Kwame doesn't meet high expectations in LA he's going to take some major heat. If he thinks the pressure in Washinton was high, think about how it's going to feel being a key to the hopes of the Lakers ressurection. No one really cared about the Wizards, only that MJ was on it. The Lakers are one of the biggest most marketable and watched teams in all of sports. Maybe going to Washington first WAS good for him and hopefully it provided him with the tougness to deal with not only his teammates, but the media as well...and lets not forget Jack Nicholson.</div> Watch who you quote. I never brought MJ into this topic. Infact you suggested that Kobe will handle things differently to Mike. Watch who you call stupid because well I hate to point it out but it looks as if you called yourself stupid. That is not a wise thing to do. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He know's that the tough love MJ gave KB2 (Kwame) didn't work and so he's smart enough to take a different approach. </div> Why are you also speechless? Kobe won't bring Kwame out infront of the squad and make him cry. You won't catch Kobe calling Kwame a ****** to the newspapers. He is therefore a softer person then MJ.
I was thinking. Kwame didn't have a father growing up, so Jordan was supposed to be his "father figure." I don't think Jordan helped him at all by calling him a "flaming f**", and a "p***y." Kwame needed a father figure and what he saw was Jordan calling him harsh slurs, do you think that hurt Kwame even more because he didn't know what it was like having a father and Jordan was supposed to be that guy and he treated Kwame like crap?
I think it may have been a factor but I think the main thing that hurt him was the pressure put on him. He was expected to instantly produce and when he didn't well you lot know how Jordan reacted. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Brown never felt he was given a fair shot with the Wizards. He believed that Michael Jordan and Collins rushed him before he was ready. "They throw me into the fire and they have to blame someone. So they bashed me," Brown said last October. Grunfeld and Eddie Jordan were more accommodating, but Brown was never able to move beyond past tribulations in Washington. An Eastern Conference executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Brown would never have prospered in Washington under that intense pressure.</div>
Well, it has been rumored that Kobe punched Samaki Walker in the eye a few seasons ago. But honestly, I think Kobe will learn MJ's mistakes regarding the motivation of Kwame. We also have PJ in the mix so he can help find what really motivates Kwame. If Kwame is a bust, our Plan B is to let him go after season 2. Simple as that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ok- some of the supidest things i've ever head on Justbball.com have been said in this thread</div> I already start reading this with some disregard. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Can't beleive you compared Shaq and Kwame's situations to eachother. They are completely different. 'Nuf said.</div> They aren't totally different situtations actually. It's Kobe dealing with another person. People think Brown can be a star, and it's the way Kobe deals with him. Of course this brings back to Kobe dealing with another star, a la Shaq, so that's how they relate. About that big brother little brother bs, don't start. Kobe and Shaq didn't have problems until Kobe became a superstar... go figure. Enough of the 2 people though. Brown is a high risk, high reward case. It's up to Brown whether he wants to be a star in this league, not Kobe. Sure Kobe can help him along the way and guide him but not much more. Oh yea... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe Kobe will be superior to Mike in this situation - Why did we HAVE to bring in MJ into this conversation as well as Shaq???</div> Another quote from ilive4ball. I don't know if you know but MJ was with Kwame when he played with Washington. And if you didn't, you learn something new everyday my friend.
