Friday, December 10th, 2010 at 2:55 pm  |  85 responses

Kobe Bryant Isn’t Ready to Pass the Torch to Anyone

Apologies to DRose and the rest of the L’s young stars, but they’ll have to rip it from Kobe’s cold, dead hands. From the Chicago Tribune: “When the Lakers beat the Bulls in Los Angeles last month, Kobe Bryant had a private conversation with Derrick Rose afterward. Asked if that conversation might have any symbolic passing of the torch undertones to it, Bryant flashed his legendary competitiveness. ‘Oh, sure, but I ain’t passing (expletive),’ Bryant said. Asked if Rose has to come take the torch from Bryant, the Lakers’ superstar smiled. ‘He can certainly try,’ Bryant said. Otherwise, Bryant lauded Rose’s development and noted his developing killer instinct: “I just told him to stay healthy and continue the job he’s doing,’ Bryant said of their November postgame talk. ‘I don’t think you can develop (a killer instinct). You either have it or you don’t. He’s had it since he was in high school. That quality separates players I think. With players of equal ability, it’s about the engine you have inside. It certainly gives him an edge.’”

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  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    Fat Lever’s comment just floored me. Hilarious.

  • dfortruth

    Well said Kobe. DRose is the only other player that I see having the same killer instinct.

  • Blackphantom

    dang, Philo that was some well put stuff you put about Kobe

  • rob

    damnnnn. well tht “torch” was jus stole from u ninjaaa. derrick rose beastin. bulls win. flakers lose

  • JTaylor21

    Damn, another 36/10 gm from Amare, that his 7th straight 30/10 gm. Dude is a Top-3 MVP candidate this season and anyone who disagrees better give some legitimate reasons as to why not.

  • http://www.slamonline.com J

    ^ STAT!

  • http://sdfklfds.com Jukai

    In my opinion, it’s Stat, Dirk, and Deron neck in neck for MVP, and I honestly can’t decide who deserves it more

  • http://sdfklfds.com Jukai

    I can’t wait for a time when young players are asking Kevin Love and Michael Beasley for advice!!!
    Young player: What advice can you give me?
    B-EZ: Be excellent to each other!
    Kevin Love: And party on, dude!!!

  • Justin

    Philosopher, the only thing I’ll disagree with is Michael passing the torch to Kobe. Michael retired with torch in hand. (Washington years don’t count as far as this topic goes)

  • CRUS-T jalepino included

    @Tarzan boy : i dropped an exciting crap today, it was some freaky ish man. Wanna peep ? Give me ur e-mail. The Mambster will just end up getting the torch ripped out with his twisted wee fingers attatched but D Rose will have to battle Bron & Wade for it over the next 5-6 years anyways. Justin posted truth btw.

  • CRUS-T jalepino included

    @Tarzan boy : I was gonna call it Turtle Head but ended up calling it the Black Mamba , then i flushed it down the toilet with pride
    :-)

  • KB8toSG8

    @JTaylor21

    He doesn’t know defense……maybe that’s a bad reason though :P

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Kobe is not passing any torch until he retires seven seasons from now. So if Lebron or Durant want it go get it. Thats what Kobe did.
    __________________________________________
    @Philosopher
    Stop acting like MJ did everything right, Homerilospher. MJ had plenty of bad defensive nights and bad shooting nights, but the only thing that matters in RINGS and NUMBERS-no matter how you get them. Also if real NBA greats and NBA anaylst agree Kobe is just as good as MJ. I take there word for it. I can’t wait until Kobe gets SEVEN rings. BOOK IT!!

  • Justin

    Once again, The Seed comes in with more ridiculous statements. Name one NBA analyst or NBA great that says Kobe is just as good as Michael. Name one! And to say MJ had “plenty” of bad defensive nights is ridiculous. Sure the occasional game someone would get his points but WAY more often than not he would shut his man down. If you’re talking numbers being one of the only things that matter, then your boy loses there too. Plenty of bad shooting nights huh? When you have a career 50% shooting percentage as a guard, you’re doing pretty well. As for the rings, Kobe was graced with better teams to play on much earlier in his career than MJ was, and he also had the benefit of being able to dump the ball into an in his prime Shaquille O’Neal. I’m not saying Kobe wasn’t an integral part of those teams because he was obviously but it sure helped having that option. Now he gets Pau Gasol. Kobe does not get those teams to the Finals, let alone win them, if he has to rely on a Luc Longley in the post instead of a player like Pau

  • slamfan4life

    Drose shittin on em mayne!

  • The Philosopher

    The Seed:
    “Homerlosopher” is classic! lol.
    Now, a man who is as astute as yourself would AND should know that a player’s career has a lot to do with circumstance, luck, and other important factors that can be hard for some to imagine.
    Anyways, of course Jordan did not do everything right. If he did, this exchange would hardly exist between us, you know?
    And, as far as professional analysts saying that Kobe is just as good as Michael Jordan…
    Mark Jackson has said that Dirk Nowitzki is better than Larry Bird. Do you believe that hyperbolic statement?

  • slamfan4life

    @JT21

    Amar’e also had 11 T.O….way too many for a PF

    Rose is ahead of him in the MVP race, shittin on them lakers

  • http://google c_cantrell

    man stat is killin it this year! turning the knicks into a very good team like no one honestly thought he would do

  • http://google c_cantrell

    anybody else enjoy that *ss beatin the bulls give the lakers lastnite? haha great sh*t

  • http://sdfklfds.com Jukai

    @The Seed: Not that I entirely disagree with your assessment, but I’d also like to hear the NBA analysts who ‘agree’ that Kobe and Jordan are on par.
    @Philo: Mark Jackson said Dirk Nowitzki might be as good as Larry Bird once it is all said and done. It was a dumb statement, but don’t misquote the dude.

  • Fat Lever

    That Fat Lever comment earlier wasn’t me, the REAL Fat Lever. Sorry, as funny as it was, it was someone else. But that’s cool that Slam still hasn’t fixed the issue with other people’s email information randomly showing up.

  • Hops6

    he’s passing it to Pau without even realising it

  • KrazyK

    @ The Philosopher

    BigBlackRod is that you? BAW alum?

  • The Philosopher

    Jukai:
    Yeah, my bad.
    Same sh1t, in my opinion.
    Call me whatever…

  • bubblecat

    Derrick Rose and a bunch of other young players have already passed Kobe as more valuable players.

  • Justin

    ^^^ I want some of what you’re smoking

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/32JSE Yesse

    I’m pretty sure there would be other people before Derrick on the line waiting to have that torch.

  • manu

    kobe doesnt even have the torch lmfao he never did

  • manu

    kobe has the torch of whiniest most overrated piece of garbage who cant finish in the playoffs

  • bertboy

    Kobe isn’t used to passing things, like a basketball…

  • mike smith

    you idiots…

  • OvaChicken

    That’s why he’l get it ripped out of his hurting little fingers.

  • tori

    why do peole think jordan is so great. like come on did you see his competition he had. no one could gaurd him, the best players on opposing teams didnt even gaurd him. thats why he was so good. he even said it he wish he could have played against more competitive players. if he played in this era of basketball he would be another good basketball player. get over it he is not on top anymore kobe is. and in 2 or 3 seasons someone else will be on top.

  • tori

    Every player has terrible nights. Jordan was great he was unstoppable, the best until Kobe came along. You can hate this dude all you want but he is the greatest. MJ said it himself. You can go look it up if you dont beleive me. He was the #16 pick for charlotte hornets, didnt have a big name and now he is THE BLACK MAMBA. You can call him whatever you want but his work ethic and his killer instinct you cant deny. He continues to add to his game, and when its all said and done he will be #1 or #2 on the all time greatest, and wont be knocked down. This is coming from a HUGE Celtic fan.

  • http://google c_cantrell

    ^tori..
    number 13 pick idiot

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