According to this piece from the Los Angeles times," Kobe Bryant can terminate the last two years of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza officially become unrestricted free agents that day, as does reserve guard Shannon Brown........The Lakers have already committed $74 million to eight players for next season, a figure that includes $23 million earmarked for Bryant. This season's NBA salary cap was $58.68 million; the luxury-tax threshold was $71.2 million.
Kobe Bryant
17 June 2009
needed for his excellent defense.
Posted by Steven Ramirez | 1 comment
21 February 2008
Kobe Bryant is a MAN. Even with that torn ligament in his shooting pinky he showed he is still the best player in the National Basketball Association. Still more important for Kobe, he it did on the night that his former teammate the self proclaimed Superman, Shaquille O’Neal who made his debut for the Phoenix Suns. Kobe scored 41 points and he got some help from some of his friends in the newly acquired Pau Gasol with 29 and the unpredictable Lamar Odom with 22.
Posted by Eric McCoole | 1 comment
23 January 2008
Later, the feuds with Kobe Bryant were quite depressing. The year that the team lost both Phil Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal was one of the low points in the team’s history. I remember feeling very pessimistic about the future… Well, Phil Jackson returned but Shaq did not. I remember that first pre-season game that Phil came back to us. Lucky to be in attendance, I was part of the standing ovation that rejoiced in his homecoming.
Posted by Apryl DeLancey | No comments yet
6 January 2008
uture hall of fame inductee. Turning in unremarkable outcomes in recent seasons, players like Kobe Bryant garner more headlines for what they say then what they do. No one seems that excited about Phil Jackson anymore and the team is more of a tourist attraction now. “Real” fans have a tough time getting decent tickets to the games since they are a place for celebrities and wanna-bes to be seen as part of the fake L.A. scene. (Fake L.A. scene as in the one that the transplants come here and try to make, not the one that really exists!) Only one of them, well actually two are real Los Angeles Lakers fans.
Posted by Apryl DeLancey | 2 comments
28 December 2007
I can still remember where I was when Kobe Bryant was accused of hurting that young woman in Colorado. I believe that was the beginning of the end. While I kept an open mind at first, I eventually soured to the whole thing. This young star had lost some of his luster in my mind. After things blew over and he started bad-mouthing Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson my attitude toward him was tainted further. This is not endemic to Los Angeles either; other players have made mockeries of the teams that pay them millions. Now don’t get me wrong – I can totally appreciate trying to get the most salary from your employer. I am also a staunch proponent to speaking up when you think something is wrong. But honestly, some of these NBA divas go too far! I guess when I hear complaints about one of the best centers to ever play the game and a hall of fame caliber coach; I have to scratch my head.
Posted by Apryl DeLancey | No comments yet
