Press-Enterprise: Play for someone else? No, Kobe says

Mamba · Jun 13, 2009

ORLANDO, FLA. - Anyone still nervous Kobe Bryant might leave the Lakers this offseason can take heart -- on Saturday he provided his strongest indication of the season that he's not going anywhere.

Asked if he could imagine playing for anyone else besides the Lakers, Bryant smiled and simply said, "No."

Bryant has two seasons and almost $48 million left on the contract he signed in 2004, but he can opt out and become a free agent on July 1, or next summer if he passes this year.

While he has stonewalled questions about whether he will test free agency this summer, the league-wide expectation remains that he will re-sign with the Lakers without flirting with any other suitors the way he did five years ago.

Bryant again tried to deflect questions aimed at pinning his future down during Saturday's news conference, coyly telling a reporter, "I have no idea what you're talking about" when asked whether he would terminate his contract after the season. He added "it won't be a topic, won't be an issue" when pressed to elaborate.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss said in November that his intent is to keep the Lakers together, though he wouldn't promise Bryant a maximum extension if he opts out. Those decisions will be made after the season, Buss said, though he did admit, "We can't afford to lose Kobe."

'a French caress?'

Anger over Mickael Pietrus' hard foul on Pau Gasol in the waning seconds of Game 4 flared up again on Saturday, with both players offering different accounts of the incident.

Said Pietrus: "It wasn't a dirty play. It was just a French caress."

Said Gasol: "The intention of that foul was hurtful. If I was unable to hold on to the rim, I would have fallen and got injured."

Pietrus was assessed a flagrant foul for shoving Gasol in the back as the 7-footer went up for a dunk to put the Lakers up 98-91 with 3.4 seconds left in overtime. Magic forward Rashard Lewis suggested Pietrus was angry Gasol was dunking the ball with so little time left, an assessment Gasol vehemently disagreed with.

"It was a five-point game at the time," he said. "Let's say they foul us, we miss two free throws, they hit a three, they're back in the game. When you have a chance to finish and score, you finish and score. No disrespect intended."

Phil fined $25K

Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 for criticizing officials during an on-camera interview between the first and second quarters of Game 4. The Lakers also were fined $25,000 for their coach's comments.

Jackson said there were some "bogus" calls after Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum each picked up two fouls in the first quarter.
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http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/lakers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_lakers_notes_14.3d82919.html

Mamba · Jun 13, 2009

@ Pietrus. Get over it dude, it was dirty.

tim · Jun 13, 2009

Black Mamba said: ↑

@ Pietrus. Get over it dude, it was dirty.
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I disagree...

bbwtrench · Jun 13, 2009

Gasol put the game away with that dunk. Nothing malicious about it. He iced the game. Pietrus hit him hard... Wish we had a gif just to prove it. That wasn't a normal foul. come on...

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Press-Enterprise: Play for someone else? No, Kobe says

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Press-Enterprise: Play for someone else? No, Kobe says

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