<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A seriously slimmed-down Kobe Bryant sat at a steakhouse table at the Wynn resort here with Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and head honcho Jerry Colangelo on Tuesday night and made one simple, strategic request. "Coach, I'm ready," Bryant declared, according to Colangelo. "And I want the best player on the other team every single night." A new face has been added to Team USA, and after going through false starts in 2003, 2004 and 2006 when, respectively, a knee injury, a rape accusation and then a shoulder injury kept him off the team, Bryant is finally going to don a USA senior men's team jersey for the very first time. </div> <div align="center">ESPN</div> First legit news about Kobe in a while so I figured I should post it. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"His competitive juices are really flowing, and that's indicative of where he is," said Colangelo, who said Bryant told him he had dropped 19 pounds since the NBA season ended while getting in shape for his first summer with the national team. </div> That really concerns me. I figure he slimmed down because he is coming into the latter end of his career and wants to keep his quickness, but Kobe was skinny enough last year. at 6'6 and 29 (next season) and only 200 pounds I would be concerned about how his body would handle the contact through a full season. Jordan bulked up later in his career, Kobe seems to be taking the Reggie Miller approach.
Yeah, dropping that much weight can't be good at all. Most of it would probably have to be muscles too, so now I have doubts about how well Kobe will handle the physical part of the game. If he is that much lighter, he will be pushed around more easily.
I wonder if the Lakers plan on using Kobe as their starting PG next season? He would have to lose the weight and gain quickness to stay in front of opposing PGs. The Lakers could go with a power lineup next year. PG - Kobe SG - Fisher SF - Odom PF - Kwame or Turiaf C - Bynum
I'm not concerned about the weight loss. Kobe Bryant is the hardest working player in the league. Ever since he came into the league, he works just as hard in the off-season as he does during the regular season. If I had to give a reason as to why he lost the weight, it is to improve his lateral quickness so he can stay in front of the opposing teams best player on defense. He's always been one to want to guard the best player and dropping the pounds will only improve his quickness and his explosiveness. He's listed as 6'6, 220. Last season, I'd bank on him being around 240. He's also 6'5 flat foot, so he's at a good weight.
Well I hope that Team USA can do something like win the Gold because they have so many superstars that they should easily win it.
His weight loss is a good thing he will be faster quicker and still be as strong. He said himself he just started eating healthy nothing wrong with that!!!! He is looking hot if u ask me. lol jk
As long as his dominate like the past few years is all that matters to me. Wether he losses or gains weight doesn't concern me.
<div class="quote_poster">Mamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not concerned about the weight loss. Kobe Bryant is the hardest working player in the league. Ever since he came into the league, he works just as hard in the off-season as he does during the regular season. If I had to give a reason as to why he lost the weight, it is to improve his lateral quickness so he can stay in front of the opposing teams best player on defense. He's always been one to want to guard the best player and dropping the pounds will only improve his quickness and his explosiveness. He's listed as 6'6, 220. Last season, I'd bank on him being around 240. He's also 6'5 flat foot, so he's at a good weight.</div> Agreed. I'm going to give Kobe the benefit of the doubt because I'm sure he has some of the most knowledgeable trainers in the world around them and they know what they're doing.
He is skinny, but that is great. I guess with age comes the need for less muscle mass, and I think that is what Kobe did. He lost some weight, but is still toned.
