Is it sour grapes over getting crushed by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Title match? Or does the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the NBA’s 2008 MVP really believe that an Olympic gold medal is more important than an NBA Title?
"I think winning a gold medal is more important because you're playing for your country," Bryant said while training with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team in Las Vegas this week. "You're not playing for a region or a state or a brand. You are playing for the United States of America."
Both Lakers head coach, Phil Jackson, and GM Mitch Kupchak are more concerned about their particular brand than a gold medal. They wish that both Bryant and Pau Gasol, who is playing for the Spanish National Team, would have chosen to rest this summer.
If you put that same question to the Portland Trailblazers’ front office, they would probably wholeheartedly agree with Jackson and Kupchak. Last summer, the Trailblazers lost the NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Greg Oden, for the entire season due to a knee injury he sustained while practicing with the U.S. Olympic Team.
So, how do fans feel about it? Would you prefer to see the star player on your favorite NBA team risk personal injury while playing for the U.S. or some other national team, or would you rather have that player rest up and do conditioning work for the upcoming season?
For me the answer is easy. Go on and play for your national team whether it’s the U.S., Russia, China, Turkey, or whoever. Why you ask? My reasoning is simple. I prefer basketball to baseball. Give me some basketball, any basketball, Malaysia versus Pakistan, the WNBA, the Summer League, whatever, I don’t care.
Give me some basketball to hold me over until the NFL and college football begin. Just so I’m not held hostage to baseball night and day on all the sports networks. I don’t care if Gasol is playing for Spain, Nowitzki and Kaman for Germany, or Ming for China. The more the merrier, I say.
As a matter of fact, forget that four-year business. Make Olympic Basketball an annual summer event.
Well, that’s how I feel. But what about other basketball fans? What is your take? Give me a shout out, and let’s hear from all of you wherever you are and whoever you root for.
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2 months ago
If you're not a money-grubbing scoundrel who REFUSED to let what greedy owners, and what they've turned the sport into, effect you and what you step onto a Basketball court for?
Then, of course, winning a gold medal is more important!
Furthermore, if a White player says this:
"...I think winning a gold medal is more important because you're playing for your country," Bryant said while training with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team in Las Vegas this week. "You're not playing for a region or a state or a brand. You are playing for the United States of America..."
That mindset gets praised, bronzed, and esteemed as the way every basketball player in America should be thinking. Instead of used as a mockery source, vs. Phil Jackson and Kupchak's aspirations for their brand. I wish Kobe had said "winning another" championship instead of "winning a" and then, avoided the peculiar *bait* that he should have known was waiting.
This article gets a grade of "P" for putridly-peculiar.
2 months ago
Thank goodness Kobe told the truth. Now if more people felt like Kobe the NBA would be a better place. Hooray for Kobe!
2 months ago
He's only saying that cause he didn't win one last June...
from 2 months ago
Well Mike, he does have three. It's not like he is 18 year veteran whose legacy will be a great player but couldn't win a championship.
YungCaucasoid is exactley right, the only reason people have a problem with his comment is because Kobe said it. If MJ was ever to say that nobody would have a problem with it. It's just another Kobe hater.
Believe it or not the U.S.A is more important than the City of Los Angeles.
from 2 months ago
And you're just a biased Kobe-lover; most of whom are worse than Kobe-haters. "Simply put, Kobe Bryant is better than Michael Jordan."? Give me a break.
from 2 months ago
And you're just a biased Kobe-lover; most of whom are worse than Kobe-haters. "Simply put, Kobe Bryant is better than Michael Jordan."? Give me a break.
2 months ago
First McMillan is one of the coaches and they wanted Oden on the select team and...
Not sure exactly when Oden injured his knee, no one is, but it sure was not from practicing with team USA. He was having his tonsils out and never did so.
His knee became sore during free practice period in the blazers training facility in Sept. before camp.
LT
from 2 months ago
Nate McMillan was a good guard for Jim Valvano at NC State. He's aware of the possibility of injury from a player's standpoint . Yet, Nate is willing to help Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski do what it takes for the USA to get back to its rightful place as the world's greatest basketball in the Olympics.
2 months ago
I think that I would rather have an nba title. I would also rather have Kobe resting up for the season and working on his game (if there is even any room for improvement), being a Lakers fan.
2 months ago
Michael,
You had better hope that Matt nor TJ nor Andrew reads you claiming, I'm right. You see, it flies in the face of their hallucination that I never ever present *any real or coherent arguments* so, unfortunately...you just might have 3 stooges, of haters, for the rest of your posting career here at B/R.com
hahahaha
good luck buddy
peace
2 months ago
Kobe is black so that automatically makes him the best player ever to lace them up because he has to deal with double standards and the media.
Same post # 32
2 months ago
One thing is for sure:
Kobe would be back in November to redeem himself and exact revenge and absorb redemption for himself and his franchise! ^_^
Can't wait! I hope and pray we have a healthy season ahead!
2 months ago
kobe is a crybaby and is just saying that to act like it was no big deal he lost to the celtics.kobe is good, but from what i saw these playoffs he is overrated and just isnt a team player. I would take pierce or lebron over him.
from 2 months ago
Kobe already has 3 rings sweetheart, so of course a gold medal(something he's never done before) would be more important. Spare me the weak and tired "not a team player" argument. He's been the league for 12 yrs and lead the lakers in assist 10 of tem. Thanks for playing though sweet cheeks.
about 1 month ago
Kobe is one of the best the League as ever seen. He has the MVP, scoring championships, NBA championships. . .It is only fitting that the "Show Boat" would claim winning gold on an U.S.A Olympic team his greatest accomplishment. Who wouldn't?
To those that hate, keep hating. This is a matter of fact and fiction. Be objective and put yourself in his shoes!!
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