Despite being injured, Kobe Bryant is still the Laker who most moves the needle when it comes to fans. Despite the Lakers’ awful record, his season ending injury, and his, compared to previous standards, sub-par play, he was still voted into the All-Star game as a starter and the release of the 10th iteration of his signature shoe was still quite the event. So, when Kobe goes on a bit of a media blitz, it’s sure to catch everyone’s attention.
On Monday evening, “Kobe the Interview” aired on NBA TV. The interview is well worth your time, if only for the career retrospective and insight Kobe provides on recovering from injuries, the longevity of his career, and capturing of the special moments that have made Kobe the player he is. NBA.com has a brief summary up here, but it’d be worth it for you to search your cable guide and see if/when it will be re-aired.
If “the interview” wasn’t enough to satiate your thirst for Kobe, you’re in luck. On Tuesday morning a sit-down between Kobe and Chuck Klosterman was released by GQ Magazine. Even more than the NBA TV piece, the interview with Klosterman gave us an unfiltered look at Kobe and offered some fantastic quotes that capture the Kobe we all want to see more of. He was introspective, smart, funny, and unabashedly honest. The entire piece is worth your time, but here are a few of my favorite parts:
On the perception of Shaq being lazy:
“He had years where he was lazy. But during those three championships we won? To say he was a beast would be an understatement. To say I didn’t learn things from him that I still use to this day would be a disservice. To be fair, I think what happened is that, as you get older, your body starts breaking down, and you have to really love the process in order to get through that. Like, right now, I hurt. My ankle joints, my knee joints. My back. My thighs are sore. But for him, with his big toe and his knee, it became very hard for him to get up in the morning and push through those things. He might not have been as willing to do those things at the time, and I wasn’t thrilled about that.”
On whether he shoots too much:
“I’ve shot too much from the time I was eight years old,” Bryant says. “But ‘too much’ is a matter of perspective. Some people thought Mozart had too many notes in his compositions. Let me put it this way: I entertain people who say I shoot too much. I find it very interesting. Going back to Mozart, he responded to critics by saying there were neither too many notes or too few. There were as many as necessary.”
On whether he has “friends” and if he is actively choosing to not have friends:
“Well, yes and no. I have friends. But being a “great friend” is something I will never be. I can be a good friend. But not a great friend. A great friend will call you every day and remember your birthday. I’ll get so wrapped up in my shit, I’ll never remember that stuff. And the people who are my friends understand this, and they’re usually the same way. You gravitate toward people who are like you. But the kind of relationships you see in movies—that’s impossible for me. I have good relationships with players around the league. LeBron and I will text every now and then. KG and I will text every now and then. But in terms of having one of those great, bonding friendships—that’s something I will probably never have. And it’s not some smug thing. It’s a weakness. It’s a weakness.”
Again, there are several great quotes from Klosterman’s piece and he does a great job (as he often does) of capturing his subject in a way that makes you want even more.
Lastly, our old friend Kurt Helin also published a long-form piece on Kobe that you should give a read to. Focusing mostly on Kobe in the late stages of his career and his battle with injuries, Kurt got some good quotes from Kevin McHale on what it is like giving it one last go as your body breaks down on a team that is not of the standard you might be used to:
“Eventually, it just catches up to you, man,” said Hall of Fame player and current Rockets coach Kevin McHale. “I’ve been blessed to be in this league a long time, and Kobe’s a great player, but I’ve seen other great players, but when your time’s up your time’s up. It’s too bad, but it happens to everybody.”
McHale is as good an end-of-career comparison as you might find for Kobe.
McHale played through a number of ankle injuries (that required surgery) and debilitating back pain his last few seasons. He could have retired when Larry Bird did in the summer of 1992, but McHale came back for one more go around, doing so on a team that was clearly not a contender.
There was a simple reason for that.
“I wanted to go out playing, and we made it to a playoff series and we lost but I went out playing as hard as I possibly could. I found a little magic in a bottle for a couple weeks and played pretty good, then that was the end of it,” said McHale, who averaged 19.6 points per game on 58 percent shooting during that first-round playoff loss to Charlotte in 1993. “It’s hard. You’re used to being able to do things, you’re used to your body responding, and if you’re a good player you’re used to your body bouncing back and doing a lot of stuff. You never really thought it could not hold up, but at some point it goes down.”
If nothing else, these interviews and pieces on Kobe reinforce the fact that the end truly is near. While Kobe says he can play another 5 years (which, if you ask me, is hyperbole from Kobe as he feeds his own legend of work ethic and overcoming odds), he’s very upfront that he’s very unlikely to play beyond his current contract. I, for one, will miss him. Not just for the all the highlights and great basketball moments he’s provided, but for the #kobequotes too. Because as he’s opened up to fans and the media over the last years, we finally start to get a better sense of who he is as a person.
Few know how to give you so much and still leave you wanting more. But Kobe Bryant is one of them.
Calvin Chang says
One thing that stood out from the NBAtv feature last night on Kobe was the background footage where he seemed to just be doing some drills. There was a clip where he was just rocking the ball back and forth with a one-hand dribble, alternating left and right. Then another clip showed him doing a jab-step fake followed by a jumper. He probably did all kinds of drills again and again to perfect his footwork. In terms of creating separation off the dribble to square up and rise up for a jumpshot, Kobe’s still the best in the league.
Aaron says
Kobe is a very smart human being. Not just a smart basketball player. I predict in the next five years, with all the new information about what is and what is not a good shot (I won’t use the analytics word), he will admit he took a lot of bad shots for the offense. I’m convinced of he was born just seven years later he would have been a very different player. The generation after Kobe grew up understanding (because of all the information) what a good shot really was. The young guys play differently now.
Calvin Chang says
Not sure if Kobe will ever publicly admit that he took a lot of bad shots because of his confidence and pride, but it is true that he took a lot of shots with a high degree of difficulty. Not only were they lower-percentage shots, but it also contributed to the wear and tear on his body. Shooting 10 to 15fters is easier on the joints and quads and is a higher-percentage shot. Contested 21++ ft fadeaway jumpers takes a lot more effort with greater impact on the knees upon landing. Other old players like Duncan and Dirk don’t make as many moves with high degree of physical effort so there’s less wear and tear on their bodies.
Robert says
Calvin: With regard to your first comment: I will never forget game 4 of the 2000 Finals. It was probably my favorite Kobe game. He said after wards that he felt like he was practicing, and if you watch the footage it looks that way. An overtime victory and the shots he was making were just routine for him. As to the wear and tear comment – You do realize that this was Kobe’s 19th year and no guard has played longer? Most retire after 12 or 13 so I guess that means hoisting up turn around fadeaways is a key to longevity? : )
Aaron: And of these young players – who is going to exceed Kobe’s accomplishments?
Aaron says
Robert,
Wow… That’s a pet peeve of mine! Ha. Accomplishments?!? That has everything to do with that persons teammates and opposition. Unless by accomplishments you’re talking about advanced stats. And of what generation of youngsters? LBJ came after Kobe and surpassed him. Wiggins has the only chance but he doesn’t have the coordination Kobe had. Westbrook is too short to last much longer as he already had multiple knee surgeries and already isn’t the same athlete (and his game is all based on athletisism). So the real question is who is the next LBJ 😉 And I don’t think there is one in the league right now. Of course the next GOAT is here in Anbony Davis… But he is a PF who is a hybrid of KG and Rasheed Wallace.
mindcrime says
Aaron:
Advanced “numbers” have their place, but one can take them too far. If players individually and teams collectively took shots based solely upon whether they were “good” shots based on analytics, (i.e., “taking the best option the defense gives you” under the circumstances) then a huge opportunity to seize a psychological advantage would be given away nightly.
The best way I can explain it is with reference to one of the simplest parallels to a different sport–football.
Everyone has heard about the basic “read” pro quarterbacks will make–seven or less in the box, audible to a run…eight or more in the box, audible to a throw….
However, if followed exclusively, you are letting the defense dictate what you are going to do on any given play solely based on pre-snap alignment.
Meanwhile, if you line it up and pound the rock down the throat of eight and nine-man fronts, you can destroy your opponent’s will. The statistics say you shouldn’t do this–but the value of doing it and succeeding is undeniable–and is the type of approach that gives rise to a legend–like the Cowboys teams of the 90’s that could have told the other team where Emmitt Smith was going to run the ball pre-snap and it wouldnt’ have mattered.
Likewise, if you take only shots that are “adviseable” under the given circumstances of a given moment in a game, you are letting the other team dictate what you will do.
Kobe’s greatest quality was the ability to impose his will in a given situation–and take away his opponent’s will in the process. He undoubtedly took it to the other extreme a bit too often–but if he had played the “advanced analytics” way for his career–
No 81.
No “Kobe 62, Dallas 61” in three quarters back in 2005.
On the other hand, probably no 6-24 in game 7 against the Celts and other low-percentage nights either.
Point being–the highs and lows that make the “Kobe legend” what it is, wouldn’t have happened. Kobe would possibly have been a more efficient player–but he also would probably have been a much more bland and boring player as well.
And it would be a bummer.
Calvin Chang says
Robert: I think Kobe could have made his career even longer by reducing the quantity of difficult shots he’s taken over the past 3 seasons. Although come to think of it, 19 years is pretty incredible for a shooting guard with Kobe’s usage rate.
Aaron says
Mindcrime,
I agree with all of that except I think you should always make the smart play and most of the time that means take what the defense gives you.
LKK says
Enjoyed both interviews. I was particularly interested in his depiction of his relationship with Phil. Good stuff. Kobe seems very comfortable in his own skin, as they say.
LKK says
… and most of the time that means take what the defense gives you…..
And the times when the defense was perfect and gave nothing, Kobe still found ways to score. That in itself makes him stand out. Kobe took his.
Aaron says
If a player shot 70 percent from 20 feet and 20 percent from three then the long two is the best shot. It’s now known Kobe or anyone shooting against two defenders is a worse shot than a wide open shot for a bad player.
Btw…Nowhere in analytics does the information suggest it’s bad to have a great player that can score efficiently against a “perfect” defense. Kobe’s ability to score against great defenders was not in question and of course why he was such a great offensive player. Many good players like James Harden and Pau Gasol would turn less than ordinary against elite defensive players. That’s what separates LbJ, Kobe, and Jordan from the rest.
Anonymous says
Marc Stein is at it again with his Dragic to the Lakers rumors. Please Jim, say no! Do not trade for him or sign him to a FA deal this summer.
Fern says
I would like Dragic on the team, but we dont have the assets maybe a multiple team trade could make it work. But even if Jimbo let Mitch do his thing, the team would stink this season. But it definetly would be a step in the right direction. If we can get him in the summer, even better, that would be ideal. But the pressure is mounting and this FO need to do something to shake things off. But, he needs to be locked down with an extension right away, if not, just wait until summer. We cant remain idle for much longer.
bryan S. says
Anon: Mostly agree. For the right price however, he might be worth it. Keep in mind that the cap is going to rise dramatically and Dragic ‘could’ be a high quality piece around two stars.
Fern says
Now near the ends we are getting a glimpse into that brilliant mind…
TempleOfJamesWorthy says
In reviewing the recent interviews with Kobe Bryant, I continue to be stuck by his arrogance, his self-delusion/self-justification, and his spin-doctoring.
Example: In one passage, he notes he wouldn’t pass the ball the Shaq in the post because Shaq wouldn’t “work”.
Excuse me! Who the [bleep] appointed YOU arbiter of whether someone is working hard enough or not? Isn’t that the coaching staff/front office’s job?
Example: Kobe’s comparison of his work to Mozart’s “too many notes”
Sorry, unlike music which is a subjective evaluation, there are objective metrics to determine whether something is working on a basketball court (“Scoreboard, baby!”). If Kobe shoots 7-22 and several of his teammates shoot 4-6, 5-7, 3-4, etc., then he needs to at least CONSIDER that his shooting is “too many notes”
Example: Kobe’s praising Phil Jackson for teaching him “effortless basketball”
Sorry, that is horse apples. The fundamental problem with Kobe Bryant from early in his career is that he plays high-effort high-difficulty basketball….and in the process, he frequently set up a vicious circle of making his play even more difficult.
Yes, when Kobe was at his peak, his crossover-fallaway-jackknife mid-range jump shots over 3 defenders went in at a surprisingly high clip. If someone could come up with a degree-of-difficulty rating for every NBA shot ever taken (similar to competitive diving), Kobe would blow away the rest of the league by a huge margin.
But that was NOT “effortless” basketball, and in process of exerting so much effort, Kobe often drained the effort of other players. All too often, when Kobe started dominating the offense, the rest of the team stopped moving. Basketball players (even professionals) won’t continue to cut and feint and fight for position forever if they don’t believe they’ll ever receive the ball.
Many many times the Lakers offense devolved into passing the ball into the post, the post guy being double-teamed (esp. Shaq), the ball going back out to Kobe, and Kobe creating a difficult shot against multiple defenders with the shot clock running down.
Again, Kobe is such a brilliant individual talent, this was more successful then it had any right to be. But calling it “effortless” is just nonsense.
I know some of this was inevitable. The kind of mentality it takes for (most) NBA greats to be greats involves a great deal of narcissism, arrogance, and self-delusion. Nevertheless, Kobe complained in one of the interviews about Phil’s barbs against him in the media, resenting that Phil didn’t speak to him directly. I ask the same courtesy from him: quit BSing us with your rationalizations when it’s clear your arrogance and stubbornness hampered what could have been an even greater career.
Baylor Fan says
It would have been nice to see even a hint of remorse over the breakup with Shaq. However, the Lakers did go on to win two more championships and that is amazing. Kobe has set a bar for personal work ethic that will not be surpassed and it has been a great pleasure to watch him for almost two decades.
harold says
Nash usually took what the defense gave him, scoring 50 points when he played us because that’s what we wanted him to do. I remember those games usually(?) turning into wins for us, so there is something about doing more than just what the defense gives you.