A few seconds ago on ESPN's SportsCenter, the cable network's NBA reporter, Jim Gray, unloaded several minutes worth of quotes from Kobe Bryant where the Lakers guard absolutely unloaded on his teammate, Shaquille O'Neal. Over the weekend, Shaq had some choice things to say about Bryant and his work ethic, and now it appears that Bryant has fired back in a way that can only be described as brutally honest.
I've just gone back and hit record on the TiVo, so give me a few minutes and I'll be back with some details. Be sure to watch the AP wire as well, and think about watching the late night edition of SportsCenter after the game.
UPDATE: Here's what I've transcribed so far:
On Shaq saying the Lakers are his team:
It doesn't matter whose team it is, nobody cares.But since it is his team, no more coming into camp fat and out of shape. And when your team is relying on you for leadership on and off the court, no more blaming others for the team's failure, or blaming staff members for not over-dramatizing your injuries so that you can avoid the blame for your lack of conditioning.
On his ongoing contract negotiations, Bryant refused to say much, but on O'Neal seeking a contract extension:
Leaders don't beg for a contract extension and negotiate some $30 million+ deal in the media when we have two future Hall of Famers playing pretty much here for free.
On whether or not he's ready to play, Bryant said might sit out Tuesday night's opener, but had a few more choice words for O'Neal:
But I don't need Shaq's advice on how to play hurt. I've played with IVs before, during and after games. I've played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball. I don't miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows is not that serious in the first place.
More in a few minutes.
ANOTHER UPDATE: More volcanic comments from Kobe as told by ESPN's Jim Gray.
On the chance he might leave the Lakers as a free agent at the end of this season:
If leaving the Lakers at the end of the season is what I decide to do, a major reason for that will be Shaq's childlike selfishness and jealousy. He is not my "big brother". A big brother would have called to lend support this Summer. I heard absolutely nothing from him. I spoke to Devin, Rick, Mitch and our owner Jerry Buss. And Shaq's own uncle, Uncle Jerome, left a message three times. Other teammates reached out and left messages like Derek, Mark and Slava. Opponents like Weber and Magette and many others left messages. Even Michael Jordan who didn't have my home phone tracked me down and lent his support, as did Tiger Woods.Yet nothing, nothing at all from my so-called "big brother." I heard nothing at all.
I asked [Lakers Head Coach ] Phil [Jackson] this Sunday, before practice, to say something to calm the situation down before it boiled over. But he backed away, and so now, here we are.
Here we are indeed. Think Bryant wants out of L.A.? Stay tuned, Gray is sure to have some more come later tonight.
FINAL UPDATE: Here's the official ESPN transcript. Lots more venom to go around:
GRAY: Shaq says that you have not been a team player. Is he right?BRYANT: That's ridiculous. I have been successfully sacrificing my game for years for Shaq. That's what Phil [Jackson} wanted me to do, so I did it. Last year Phil told me Shaq was not in physical condition to carry the trust of our offense, so he asked me to do it. But then he saw Shaq was getting upset that the team wasn't running through him, so Phil asked me to pull back and I did. This year is no different; my role is whatever Phil want it to be. Period.
Now, if Bryant were just hacking Shaq, I'd think there might be a chance to salvage this situation. But what Bryant has done here is not only dis O'Neal, but also create an enormous breach of trust with Jackson. How the Lakers dig themselves out of this one, I don't know.
holy crap – this is a situation where the only thing we actually *do* know for sure is that Kobe *isn’t* getting traded to the Nuggets.
Shaq has the mentality of a child–a child whom nearly everyone has reasons to coddle. Kobe’s been asked to play that game for years and finally got tired of it. As far as breach of trust goes, I’d blame whomever started this round of ranting in the media (I honestly don’t know, but I’m guessing it wasn’t Kobe).
Think the Mailman wants to be back in Utah now? Kobe shouldn’t have slammed Jackson’s inability to talk to Shaq, but I think that the media have given O’Neal a freer ride than they did Jordan back in the day. The fact is he has suggested Penny Hardaway was the problem back in Orlando; he’s managed to have difficulty with Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel in L.A. They couldn’t play with “Shaq Diesel” and they got shown the door. Kobe Bryant may be scummy as a husband and a potential felon. But Shaq’s ego is the problem here. Bryant has proven himself flexible enough to work within the team concept. His reward is to be continually patronized by Shaquille.
Celtics. (crossing fingers) Please, God, please let it be the Celtics who pick him up in free agency next year.
Great post. I don’t know who to blame but Shaq needs to grow up and Phil Jackson is going to have a long year.
They ALL are a bunch of overpaid crybabies! They ALL need to grow up…in a lot of ways!
That’s my story…and I’m sticking to it!