Kobe Bryant Downplays Dwight-Mamba Feud with Classic Twitter Picture

Kobe Bryant is as Kobe Bryant does. And right now, Kobe is making Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News look like a nincompoop.

For those who don't know, according to Bondy, Bryant and Dwight Howard's relationship has been fractured beyond repair—to the point where the behemoth could still wind up with the Brooklyn Nets.

Achoo!

Sorry, I'm allergic to absolute nonsense. 

Looking at the picture the Black Mamba tweeted of he and Howard preparing to duke it out over a resting Mike D'Antoni, I'd say Kobe is too.

"

The mamba vs d12 !! It's on lol twitter.com/kobebryant/sta…

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 7, 2013"

It takes but one look at the trio to conclude that nothing is wrong with the Los Angeles Lakers off the court. 

On the court? Well, that's a different story. But with the Lakers sitting outside of the Western Conference playoff picture, we'll have to take what we can get for now.

I mean, come on, you know this is meant to make a mockery of something when the perpetually comical Howard himself takes to tweeting it.

"

The re match lol. instagr.am/p/UMmlu7qi6D/

— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) January 7, 2013"

Bryant is giggling like he was just told he needed to pass the ball more while Howard boasts the look of a constipated Herculean. As for D'Antoni, he looks genuinely frightened, like he was just told he needed to coach defense or something.

And that's a good thing.

Scratch that, Kobe's giggling, Howard's look of fake duress and D'Antoni's petrified state are great things.

As Howard himself has already admitted (via Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com), on-court harmony cannot be actualized without off-court amity:

"

"Those guys on the Clippers team, they really enjoy each other off the court and it shows," Howard said Saturday after Lakers practice.

And how about the Lakers? Do they have that chemistry?

"It's something we have to do to get better," he said. "We have to play like we like each other. Even if we don't want to be friends off the court, whatever that may be, when we step in between the lines or we step in the locker room or the gym, we have to respect each other and what we bring to the table."

"

From the looks of it, both Kobe and Dwight have found an appreciation for each other.

Which means those (what's up, Bondy?) who were holding out hope that Howard would inevitably spurn the Lakers for the Nets or another team are out of luck.

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