Kobe Bryant on Quite Frankly Tonight

He will be the guest tonight on Quite Frankly.

11PM EST
8 PM PST

I'll post a recap after it's done.

 

Kobe comes out, dressed like a power banker. Crowd starts chanting M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P.

SAS asks him about his 81 point performance. Kobe said, when he got 77, that's when his teammates and fans started pushing him to get 80. He said he doesn't really think about the comparisons to Wilt, Jordan, Bird, or Magic. He just wants to win and make it back to the playoffs.

SAS asks him what he thought about Vince Carter's comments. Kobe said he doesn't care it's in one ear and out the other. SAS says yeah right I see you squinting and storing it away for the next time you face Vince. Kobe starts laughing.

SAS asked him if any of the Lakers on the team are assassins. Iverson calls him a straight assassin. Kobe said there are some players who want to win, but he didn't name names. Kobe said in the summer he told Odom he wants the Lakers to approach the game as the hunters, not the hunted.

Kobe says he's outgoing and a sarcastic dude. He said people who says he's not outgoing simply don't know him.

Kobe knew he would be in the NBA, and not go to Duke because he knew he would put in the work and study to be the best.

Kobe is trying to become fluent in Spanish.

Kobe said his edge might come from when he was in Italy, and players there said he's good in Italy, but isn't good compared to players in the USA.

Kobe said being told he wasn't needed on draft day by the Hornets motivated him all summer long to workout.

Has been training with Joe Karball (sp) for the last 10 years. Said his conditioning is the first thing he concentrated on in his rookie year.

Kobe enjoyed being the facilitator on quarterback of the Lakers when he was with Shaq. He enjoyed studying the game film on defenses and reading the progressions, so he could take advantage of their weaknesses and allow Shaq to take advantage of his strengths. He said Lamar is in that role now. Kobe said you have to study game film and enjoy what you're doing otherwise you won't be successful.

 

SAS brings up Magic's quote about the Shaq-Kobe break up. Magic said he still doesn't understand it and no one was there to sit them down and tell them they are better off together than apart.

Kobe said situations are what they are, and still reflects on it to learn from it. He said he wishes Shaq the best of luck in Miami.

SAS asks him why it didn't work. Kobe said he can only speak for himself. He said playing with Shaq was easy and he enjoyed it. When Kobe became a free agent he looked at other teams to see what other challenges could be there that might tempt him. During his search, Kobe was informed Shaq had been traded, so he knew there was no chance the Lakers would sign and trade him also.

Kobe said he came close to joining Chicago. He actually went house shopping in Chicago. Clippers were a close second because of his relationship with CMaggs and Brand.

Kobe said his peers criticizing what he would and wouldn't be with Shaq is what got him thinking about a new challenge, a challenge without being Shaq's teammate. He also said he doesn't dislike Shaq at all.

SAS shows him his interview with Shaq. Kobe said he wasn't responsible for Shaq leaving. He said Dr. Buss has answered it already, it was a business decision.

SAS brings up the interview were Kobe told Jim Gray Shaq was fat and out of shape. Kobe said his job is to make sure the team is fully functional, and that's why he said it. It was his role to be 'on' guys and make sure they are focused. Kobe said he was immature with those comments and taking them public. He said he should have kept it private.

SAS talks about the MLK truce b/t him and Shaq. Kobe said it was good for the youth to see two grown men put their differences aside.

 

SAS brings up PJax's excerpt from book the "Last Season." SAS asks Kobe how can he be happy with PJax back after the comments in PJax's book.

Kobe said life is too, short, you can't hold grudges and not forgive. Kobe said who am I to judge him and not forgive.

SAS says PJax broke a code, and is a hypocrite because he advocates that same code.

SAS asks him what he learned from Colorado. Kobe Bryant "God is great." He said you can know it all you want, but until you have to pick up that cross you can't carry and God is there to pick up for you, then you know.

SAS talks about Kobe's relationship with John Black (Lakers PR). Kobe said it was all about keeping his family together and be united. He said that's what the most important thing in the world for him is. He expects another daughter in May. Kobe starts tearing up. Said his wife constantly challenges him to be better and is very supportive of him.

 

SAS shows Kobe his Iverson interview where Iverson said the media is wrong for not leaving Kobe alone. He said he tells LeBron all the time they love you now, but they waiting for you to mess up.

Kobe says he can smell it out when a person isn't competitive, and he goes out their to take their will.

Kobe said he needs more rings to be considered greatest of all time. He said he won't stop working and pushing until he gets back to Championship level.