On Thursday, ESPN and the Truehoop Network ranked Kobe Bryant the 40th best player in the NBA in which the five-time champion called them ‘a bunch of idiots.’
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Henry Abbott of ESPN released an article today about how the five-time champion is responsible for the Los Angeles Lakers’ downfall. In the article, an NBA agent says a lot of his clients didn’t want to play with Bryant:
I’ve had a lot of clients in the last five years, good players, who didn’t want to play with Kobe,” says an agent who has had numerous NBA stars. “They see that his teammates become the chronic public whipping boys. Anyone who could possibly challenge Kobe for the spotlight ends up becoming a pincushion for the media. Even Shaq.”
Since Dwight Howard left for the Houston Rockets and the Lakers couldn’t sign a superstar this past off-season, some have concluded that no player wants to play with Bryant. While Bryant has been known to be a difficult teammate, he will do whatever it takes to win.
Heading into his 19th season with an extremely young roster, Bryant has been very patient during training camp and is a mentor to players like Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
[divide]Kobe Bryant On Lakers Identity Moving Forward, ‘Smashmouth Basketball’