Thursday, May 26th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  144 responses

Kobe Bryant on Mike Brown Hiring: No Comment


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Laker Nation is still wrapping its collective head around the idea of Mike Brown as the new man in charge. And apparently, so is Kobe Bryant.

The “Black Mamba” hasn’t made any public statements regarding the matter, but according to published reports, he did not see this coming.

There are concerns about the fact that Bryant wasn’t consulted at all before Brown was hired — Kobe’s preferred choice was current assistant coach Brian Shaw — and though Mike Brown claimed last night that he and the Laker superstar exchanged text messages, Bryant’s silence is telling.

From the LA Times:

Apparently the Buss family followed through on its declaration not to “consult the players on these matters,” as Jerry Buss said in a Tuesday radio interview about the hiring of a new coach. The Lakers and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown agreed to a deal Wednesday. People familiar with Kobe Bryant’s thinking said that the All-Star guard was confused by the decision. When reached Wednesday by The Times about the Brown hire, Bryant had no comment. Bryant said earlier this month that he would be comfortable with Assistant Coach Brian Shaw getting the job because of Shaw’s overall knowledge of the franchise, the triangle offense and, of course, the players.

“I’m here to continue to try to help this organization carve a championship path that’s already been laid,” Brown said Wednesday on ESPN during halftime of the Dallas Mavericks-Oklahoma City Thunder game. “I know I’m not going to fill [Jackson's] shoes…But I am excited to help carve my own path with this team going forward,” Brown said.

Mike Brown reportedly impressed Jim Buss, the Lakers’ owner’s son who increasingly makes the important decisions for the franchise, by selling him on his ability to coach defense and deal with superstars (see: James, LeBron).

The Mike Brown/Kobe Bryant relationship will be the biggest factor in making this new direction for the Lakers a success. Sooner or later, Kobe will have no choice but to extend an olive branch, and try to make it work.

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  • http://countdownnba.blogspot.com/ Clay

    Kap, if you’re “Tired of seeing the same guys just rotating jobs,” wouldn’t you rather have Shaw?

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    @Clay…It was time to get rid of the triangle. That’s why I never wanted Shaw as head coach.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Kap the Lakers didn’t hire Mike Brown. Jim Buss did. And that guy never played a lick of basketball in his life. Assuming (because that’s what your doing) he know’s how to recognize a good coach for his personnel is all your going. (The last time Jim Buss was trusted to make a coaching hire he hired Rudy Tomjonovich, and they didn’t make the playoffs. Here is some more info on why I think Jim Buss’ decision making is horrid, not questionable, but horrid. “Phil Jackson was asked if he has a stronger sense of attachment with the Lakers front office (other then Jeanie Buss), then he did with the Bulls:

    “There are people in the organization that I have an attachment to. But, I haven’t spoken to Jimmy Buss this year. Jerry, I see occasionally and we confer, Mitch and I have our chances to be together, and have a good relationship. Those are people in that department that I have a relationship. But, as far as management, if you want to call it, there’s really not a relationship in that aspect of that.””

  • http://Philosophervision@blogspot.com The Philosopher

    Damn Kap, I thought you were white….

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    That was from Phil Jackson’s exit interview with the media, a little over a week ago.

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    Nope. Born in Jackson, Ms. Now in med school. Have put up with alot of stuff so I hate when people act like racism is dead.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    We don’t need to celebrate anything about race anymore. We have a black president, we have had many black coach’s. The only thing that celebrating race does now is put an emphasis on the exact thing we are trying to ignore. Race

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    @nbk…to be fair the lakers had a winning record until Rudy stepped down and Kobe and Lamar got hurt.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Totally forgot about Rudy stepping down, who ended up taking over for him, Kurt Rambis?

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    We as black people have the right and should celebrate every accomplishment of a fellow brother/sister that we can and head coach of the Lakers is a huge accomplishment.There is nothing wrong with that at all.

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    Frank Hamblem. It was awful and hard to watch especially having Chucky Atkins run the point.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I don’t mean we are trying to ignore race, that sounds wrong to me. I mean we are trying to get over defining people by their race. Mike Brown is a basketball coach, the color of his skin is and should be irrelevant (in a perfect world i guess)

  • http://slamonline.com The Black Rick Kamla

    vtrobot correction “we exchanged texas”

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    @nbk…I agree with you. I was referring to a comment earlier by someone else that they clearly would not make in reality to a black person.

  • BYEBYE

    I am right browns practices were spirited like the time brown told the cavs who made a half court shot first in practice didn’t have to practice or the time when Labron was shooting full court shots cause they said he couldn’t do it
    Or remember when mo an bron had their epic sitting on the floor three point drills an oh yeah what about when bron an the team were shooting from the seats on the sidelines
    Mike brown and I don’t want to sound bad by saying this
    He is the dumbest coach I ever seen when it came to x s and o s
    He literally let Labron do what the hell he wanted to do and it hurt how can u say ur good with star players when u can’t tell them anything they would listen to
    In clev i swear he would just stand there an he wouldn’t move all we could see is that ..it eating grin of his like what to do what am I gonna do like the coach from the water boy

  • Cizzo

    Personally, i don’t think he can coach at a championship lvel.. he’s problby good at Barbeques and gams of dominoes..maybe horse shoes? But idon’tthink he was the “Man” for the Laker’s Job.. my opinion… @ Kap if they want to hire a black coach i think Brian Shaw would of fit in with no kind of infractions….. i really think he deserved a try? My opioin again….

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    I said earlier I didn’t agree with hiring Shaw bc I thought it was time to get rid of the triangle. I also think Brown was in a tough spot in Cleveland bc the ownership let Bron do what he wanted. I also never said they should hire a coach just bc of their skin color. I just said it was a great accomplishment. But hopefully he gets that coach from Real Madrid on his coaching staff bc I read he’s good at developing players and big men.

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    Wasn’t the coach from waterboy like some kind of offensive genius when it came to drawing up plays?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Frank Hamblem? wow that season was a disaster. 80% of all basketball decisions made in LA since 2004 have been made by Jim Buss according to Jerry Buss. So I guess he’s done a pretty damn good job, although there are quite a few things I would have done differently.

  • byebye

    brown is good too at developing a good half court shot hoping labron would save his butt when he didnt have a clue. brown i dont know kob gon have a fit in practice if he ever went to practice with the team anyway kob is gonna be taking over the offense and going 05-08 kob or atleast he will try

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9B412oN9MA EJ

    I kinda get what Kap is saying, cause I was happy to hear that the Lakers’ physiotherapist is Finnish like me.

  • byebye

    yeah after he started imagining the other coach was a baby or dog

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    @nbk…I definitely would of traded for Melo and kept Farmar and Ariza but one can only dream now..

  • Benn0

    sorry about my comments. they were very harsh.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    yeah the Ariza thing was the first thing that came to mind. And also refusing to examine any Andrew Bynum trades (unless they do get DHo, then I understand waiting)

  • Eboy

    Kobe Bryant is the worst player of all-time!!!

  • http://WWW.SLAMONLINE.COM Benn0

    BOO

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    I like Brown the guy. I also think he’s a better coach than everyone is giving him credit for. Can’t we all agree the Lakers need more help on defense than offense. And i am sure they will get a guru for offense in there also. I’m very optimistic for next season still. I will give anyone a chance for the most part. Yeah Benn0 that heals all wounds ya dork.

  • SikhWitIt

    What is Jim Buss’ basketball background for him to be impressed with Coach Brown’s “defense” and “ability to handle superstars”? Lakers just made a huge mistake; Brian Shaw was the only perfect fit for this job and this is a slap in the face to him and to the veterans on this roster.

  • JTaylor21

    Sheeeeeeit, f*ck celebrating what a black man accomplishes. If that black man sucks at what he does, what is there to celebrate about?
    It doesn’t matter black, white, green or orange, if that person is good at what he does, celebrate that not the individual’s race.

  • http://slamonline.com Kap

    I would look into acquiring Cleveland’s #4 pick and maybe Varejao for Odom/Brown

  • michael Hale

    holy crap, i just saw the picture of our new head coach….
    its freakin’ AL ROKER from the today show !!!
    we’re sunk

  • LadyD

    WOW! The media is looking to start SH!T and create drama when there is none. S what Kobe hasn’t said anything, he is entitled to his opinion just like you and if he endorsed Shaw what’s the big deal? Why don’t you all take a chill pill and let’s see what happens, stop taking what the media says and start blaming Kobe…..If Kobe is not happy, he isn’t the only one.

    Time will reveal all!

  • http://dsjkflf.com Jukai

    Brian Shaw was black. He woulda been the perfect choice for Kobe and those who are going to mindlessly support someone just cause of the color of their skin and not their body of work.

  • bike

    The reason Kobe is upset is because Brownie is gay.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Nothing wrong with taking pride in your race and being happy for the accomplishments of an African-American. BUT, that should be based on their body of work.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    I remember watching Colin Powell switch from republican to democrat because of Obama’s skin color. Whats the big deal. Who cares what MLK said obout content of character it’s much easier just to base your life off of skin color anyway… hmm….

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Benn0 is the dumbest commenter on SLAMonline, maybe ever. Apparently he’s not only a homophobe, but he’s also a racist. Don’t be offended people, he’s an idiot. And I had a hunch he was some sort of European, maybe Spanish, because of the way he types, but apparently he’s English. A white Englishman and he still types English like a five-year-old.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    Not a great comment either, zoom… But I understand why you were p!ssed lol.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    @ Kap: What year of Med School are you in? That’s awesome, man.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9B412oN9MA EJ

    Kap, I just gotta ask that do you feel ashamed or somehow bad when a black man fails at something?

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    I didn’t see that Benn0 apologized… maybe I was a little harsh too. Still really tasteless things to say though.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Nick Tha Quick

    It’s 2011, we have a black president and we’re still calling the Heat’s starting small forward “Labron.” This is soooo 2003!

  • http://www.newyorkshockexchange.com Shock Exchange

    Wonder what he thinks about the pending exit of Shannon Brown from L.A. http://clicky.me/5KzO

  • IvoL

    i still think the lakers should hire Rick Adelman not Mike brown, and it’s not because of his race because i’m white, i’m from europe, i’m half portuguese half spanish and my best friend is black but let’s talk about basketball not skin collor.
    Well Adelman have more accomplishments than Brown without a superstar like Lebron he didn’t have healthy players and still managed to have the second best record for winnings in a row he made guys like Brooks, Lowry and Landry excepcional players and in my opininon he is a better teacher than Brown

  • http://www.slamonline.com Waylonakolipse

    That’s what happens when you’re not a top 5 player. 1. Lebron 2. Dirk 3.Durant 4.Wade 5.Howard 6.CP3 7.Rose…..Kobe maybe #9.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/other-ballers/international/2010/03/flight-75-dc-to-moscow/ Mitya

    that’s ok, cause slamonliners have 94

  • http://slamonline.com zoom

    First, I could give a fcuk about anyone’s opinions of my comments. Second, I’m tired of people telling Black people what they should and should not be proud of, especially if you’re NOT black. I don’t give a damn about Brown’s race as it concerns his job with the Lakers, but I’ll be damned if I tell another black person that they shouldn’t celebrate a position few others of our ethnicity have held. I love the whole “we have a black president” bs that only IDIOTS bring up in these discussions. The only people who are ignorant enough to bring it up are closet racists. Yes I said it! You are a closet racist if you’ve ever pointed to our HALF black president as evidence of the lie that there is no more anti-black racism. The same president who gets more death threats from citizens of his own country than any other has. The same president shown more disrespect from collegues than any other has been shown. And Lakeshow, try knowing what you’re talking about before you talk. You’re not even an authentic fan, much less a social commentator. Making a statement like that about a former Bush official who was openly disgusted by his own administration shows how ignorant you are. He was supposed to support McCain, whose plans mirrored Bush’s? Stfu and talk about something you actually know about. Some of you fools will be quick with the asinine “I have black friend’s” or “my favorite player is black” lines. Racism has gotten worse since the election, and the internet is the coward’s dream. Internet anonymity is like sex to losers. For many it’s the only sex you have, so enjoy it. You are still an inadequate fairy in the real world, the only one that counts. I’m not part of the kumbaya clique, so if you hate me I hate you right back. Anyone that made more of a comment on Bulls22 1st statement than you did on Benn0′s bs, kill yourself!

  • http://slamonline.com zoom

    And for the record Benn0 can take that apology and choke on it. Gtfoh with wack ish.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Waylonakolipse

    Damn son tell ‘em. Obama got too much crap for health reform. Health is the most valuable thing we can have. And he wanted everyone a chance to have it and he’s looked as a bad guy for it? Tea Bag party is a mask for white resentment that they’re losing control. They have a tax platform, bag on Obama, and he’s lowered taxes from the Bush era? That doesn’t make any sense. F**K FOX NEWS.

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