<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Thursday, October 14, 2004 Because of the illness, Allen wasn't around to answer questions after the Sonics beat the Lakers 87-80 on Tuesday, but he was asked for a day-after assessment of Kobe Bryant's performance in his first game after Shaquille O'Neal was traded and coach Phil Jackson retired. "He's going to be very selfish," Allen said of Bryant, who scored 15 of his team's first 20 points and had 35 points in Tuesday's loss. "And he feels like he needs to show this league and the people in this country that he is better without Shaq. He can win championships without Shaq. So offensively, he's going to jump out and say, 'I can average 30 points. I can still carry the load on this team.' "I think the point production is not going to be so much what people are going to look at because (Tracy) McGrady did it in Orlando, Allen (Iverson) did it in Philly. Can you win a championship? I think that's the question. Carrying guys on your back and making everybody better." Can Bryant do that? "He has the talent, he can do it," Allen said. "But is his attitude going to allow him to take a back seat and let Lamar Odom shine and let Caron Butler have his nights and bring those big guys along with him?" Allen said Bryant's ability and willingness to incorporate others will be the gauge for the Lakers' success. Bryant was re-signed for seven years at more than $130 million this summer. "If Kobe doesn't see he needs two and a half good players to be a legitimate playoff contender or win a championship in about a year or two he'll be calling out to Jerry Buss that 'We need some help in here,' or 'Trade me,' " Allen said. "And we'll all be saying, 'I told you so,' when he says that." </div> http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/195189_sonx14.html Well, it doesn't take into account the fact that the management pretty much lied to him, but still an interesting read.
My God, Ray Allen should tell fortunes for a living, after his career is done. I'm sure other players thought it, but he said it. Simply unbelievable.
werent we all saying that at the time? We know kobe is sefish and everyone knew he would demand a trade if the Lakers hit rock bottom.
Actually, I never pictured Kobe wanting out so quickly. In all honesty, I was under the impression that he knew exactly what the management planned for the team since they surrounded him with Caron Butler and Lamar Odom. And while they are solid role players, the rest of the Lakers that were left over sucked. Plus the Lakers traded Payton without warning as well. Kobe must have been dumbfounded by drafting Bynum though. Bill Simmons mentioned it, but someone like Danny Granger would have helped the Lakers a lot more immediately What's the point in building around someone in thier prime if you're going to recruit 17 year old centers?
I think most people that weren't either Kobe fans or Laker fans knew this was going to happen a long time ago. At least I did, the only thing is I thought the management would do something about it once they realized it wasn't going to work. Apparently it's not the case.
<div class="quote_poster">michiganave17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">werent we all saying that at the time? We know kobe is sefish and everyone knew he would demand a trade if the Lakers hit rock bottom.</div> Why would Kobe want to stay on a team that barely gets to the playoffs and isn't making any moves? It seems logical that a 28 year old player with less time to waste would want to leave. I don't think that's selfish if the Lakers are in rebuilding mode.
Im not gonna argue with a lakers fan about kobe being so unselfish. you know how 90% of jbb thinks about Kobes attitude. my point is We all knew If The Lakers hit ROCK bottom kobe would bail! so ray allen isnt a prophet because if he is 90% of basketball fans are prophets also.
<div class="quote_poster">michiganave17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Im not gonna argue with a lakers fan about kobe being so unselfish. you know how 90% of jbb thinks about Kobes attitude. my point is We all knew If The Lakers hit ROCK bottom kobe would bail! so ray allen isnt a prophet because if he is 90% of basketball fans are prophets also.</div> I don't even think you know what I think about Kobe. I just have this sig as a kind of joke and I may have to change it soon. That said, 90% is a bit high.
