Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant Clear the Air

@JeffOG My opinion is valid now. I don’t claim to know Phil’s mind, but it was plain to hear from the audio and from reading the rest of quote (“…start energizing the team by going one-on-one…”). Why would you say “energize”? Wouldn’t you choose something more negative if you were to say that he did something bad? At the same time, I agree that he might have meant a little bit of both, it’s Phil’s subtle demeanor to get a message across. BUT this was made up to be as if Phil was attacking Kobe (“verbal fireworks”) and that they had beef. This was more “cap gun” than “fireworks”. This was not a major conflict, it’s coaching. Just imagined drama by the internet masses.

I’ll say this: I’m shocked Kobe manned up like that. Michael Jordan would have shoved it off and acted like a dbag. So good for Kobe.

Alright let me try to clear this trouble up about people hating kobe and praising lebron:
Kobe is hated on because he gets rings while he is arrogant to most people around him off the court. He’s the guy who shows up to a completely casual event with the team in a suit and tie to show everyone up.
Lebron is loved because all we see is him treat everyone respectfully and fairly, giving christmas gifts to his teammates when its completely unnecessary and usually taking the fall for their losses (regardless of which team), without being arrogant but yet has no rings.
Lebron ruined his image though this summer by joining up with Wade and Bosh (I applaude him for that move, its smart for championships), people like a hard worker that finally makes it work like Jordan did with the Bulls.

Both athletes are tremendously dedicated to the game and have been since they were in diapers. Their personalities is what people use to say who’s better or worse.

If both had almost the same personality do you honestly believe there would be as much hype about who’s number one and that they need to play against each other every christmas? I don’t see it happening.

Jackie Moon: I agree that he probably meant to confuse by putting those vastly different phrases into one. But, when actually hearing what he said it sounded like what it was initially portrayed to be. Notice he never hesitated or stuttered as if he used the wrong terms. Never tried to clear it up until outsiders made a big deal. Not that I expected Kobe to get upset. Even if Phil meant it as an insult Kobe should be mature enough at this point to accept criticism from a guy who helped him to five rings. It should never cause drama either way.

@The Seed…Do you honestly believe that leading the All Star voting means anything? I mean, Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson were voted to start without having played a damn game! That thing’s just a popularity contest and that’s it. It’s also why Garnett was voted to start over Bosh last year even though Bosh was having a monster first half. Kobe gets hated on because so many proclaimed him the next MJ, which is blasphemy to start with, and when he failed to live up to that lofty expectation coupled with the Denver incident it soured the way people look at him. Much the same way people are soured over the Lebron has conducted himself these past 8 months. Too many posters on here aren’t mature enough to look at the abilities of both objectively or without bias. Why is it that we can’t sit back and enjoy both players and revel in the fact that we are watching two of the best players to ever play the game?

“The NBA, where [expletive] happens”

Stop hatin on lebron and kobe can do wateva he wants f..k phil he don’t coach anyway kobe does lol and I hate the lakers I’m a celtics fan….but bron is not a sidekick by the way him and dwade are both 1A

I like that Kobes finally embraced the fact that he’s an arrogant ahole. Good for him;