Monday, April 2nd, 2012 at 10:05 am  |  88 responses

Kobe Bryant Called His Critics ‘Idiots’ After 40-Point Performance


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Kobe Bryant is on a roll of late when it comes to insulting anyone who dares to question his team or the man himself.

Last week, Bryant called those who doubt that the Lakers can contend for an NBA title this season “mentally challenged”.

After bouncing back from an awful 11-point performance on Saturday (which, granted, included the game-winning shot), with a blistering 40-point effort last night, Kobe had a message for his own doubters.

From the LA Times:

So he said he didn’t approach the Lakers’ game against Golden State on Sunday as a chance at redemption, or anything so trite as that. “That’s not going to happen,” he said. “I had an 81-point game. That’s just not going to happen tomorrow.” [...] The doubters don’t bother him, he said, not even hearing the criticism they offered in analyzing Saturday’s near-debacle. “It’s interesting to me to hear people talk after a game like that, that I’m done and all that stuff,” he said. “The amount of idiots that live out here, after 16 years, is baffling to me. I guess people just get dumber over the years.” Including those who carp about his efforts.

”We’re all surrounded by idiots. All of us,” he said. “We’re all surrounded by idiots.” Not a diplomatic way to treat the fans who are paying the ever-increasing freight to see him play. Or did he mean the media gathered around his locker? “Take it as you wish,” he said. “The only thing that people need to know, even if I told them I’d come out here with a sprained ankle and all sorts of stuff, they know after 16 years I’m going to go out there and do my job and I’m going to perform. And whether I struggle for 31/2 quarters or whatever the case may be I’m going to play hard. I’m going to put my team in a position to win.”

Hilarious bravado aside, these are the facts: Kobe Bryant holds a slim lead as the NBA’s top scorer. He is taking the most shots of anyone in the L, and shooting the second-worst % of his illustrious career. It’s clear that he must work harder that ever to score his points.

These are all signs of a great player slowing down, but still fighting against father time, and for the moment, winning the battle.

But for how much longer, and how far can his heroics carry the Lakers this year and beyond?

Only an “idiot” would venture to take a guess, I suppose.

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  • riggs

    then he told the kids to get off his damn lawn.

  • kobe4ever8

    I am a big kobe fan, I am happy that he can still score (most often than not, in expense of a W). But why would you can the people around you idoits??? He just have got to shut up and play; and play better to help the TEAM win.

  • http://www.runninglikwidworks.com MrRLW

    Great close to this write up Marcel.

  • Truthtell4r

    Dont Mess With THE BLACK MAMBA!!! he’s bringing anuther championship to L.A !!!!!!!!

  • Paul H

    I guess there are a lot of idiots out there Kobe. Still a great player but an ego going more stratospheric by the minute just doesn’t go well with your diminishing ability. You talk constantly about being a consummate professional? That includes not taking criticism like a 14 year old mate.

  • lakernation

    he’s right we’re all surrounded by idiots…. watch how many idiots post on this blog.

  • orso94

    The ultimate douche, but the ultimate winner.

  • Heals

    “We’re all surrounded by idiots, all of us, we’re all surrounded by idiots.” I hear ya Mamba LAL fans are awful, glad we can agree on something…

  • Yesse

    Yeah, a real mature finish with the article.

  • bike

    Classic symptoms of insecurity.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    When did a 40pt game against the Warriors become a cause for celebration and insults?

  • AD

    He really was telling Taylor to choke on a fat one. It won’t be long before he finishes sluroing on one and come on here to give his “Kobe sucks…” routine bit.

  • crooklyn

    More players should take this approach. Maybe not all players, but the ones who hear enough ridiculous crap from these idiots (you know who you are)

  • toinefan88

    No more chippos but Kob still got game.

  • AD

    Spoke too late

  • AQWORD

    Ultimate douche. M.J. was ultimate winner. Kobe = ultimate weeener !

  • benkeys1

    He’s right. We are surrounded by idiots. 5 rings, 81 point game, 2nd all time leading scorer with one team, 5th leading scorer of all time, olympic champ, his team is 3rd in the west and he plays hurt and doesn’t complain. They act like the Lakers are the Charlotte Bobcats or something. IDIOTS.

  • Joe Black

    MJ = whiny scumbag punk

  • AQWORD

    Wow. Kobe lit up the warriors for 40 in an offence where he is right when refusing to pass to better players. Well done Kobe. Well done. I bet u will bring home the title this year & not let anyone hold it because it’s yours & yours only. Youre right Kobe – Phuk dem kidz. I know this makes sence Kobe. Noone will tell me different.

  • Joe Black

    MJ = league’s worst loser

    see: Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats

  • Harlem_World

    At what point does arrogance become ignorance?

  • AQWORD

    :-)

  • T-Money

    i really have no idea how can anyone like kobe. not appreciate his talent, but find him likable.

  • dargar

    I’m no real fan of Kobe, but I agree with him on this one. Most of his critiques ARE idiots. After 16 years he leads the league in scoring??? THAT, to me, is mind boggling. ANY commentary about his game, therefore, should be done under the hush of absolute respect for his continued greatness.

  • Joe

    There are so many idiots in this wolrd especially journalists who are looking for drama such as to publish, becausexthey have nothing intersting to say. If Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnet, Ray Allen who are older than Kobe Bryant can score in double figures, Ray Allen is 35, why not Kobe Bryant. People, let’s get real, ” God has given to many human being apecial gift, only he can tell”, not us humans.

    Kobe will get ring number 6 and 7 and is good till 39, look at Steve Nash, he is 38 and still makes wonders and score in double digits.

    Kobe is on a mission and it will be accomplished. Just live the Mamba alone, before he starts to bite. ” Go Kobe and Lakers, get ring 6 and 7″

  • http://www.robbrack.com rob

    Kobe has always done things his way. If he had been more of a team guy they probably would have beaten Detroit in 2004 and the Celtics in 2008 in addition to the 5 championships.

    I am not sure why a guy with his skill can’t get easier shots and I know when he takes the ball 1 on 3 defenders that it can’t be the best shot and especially so when Andrew Bynum shoots over 50% and for the most part Pau does as well.

    Does and idiot look at the stats and just pretend that the math doesn’t add up? Does an idiot look at the stats of Michael Jordan compared to Kobe’s and see that Kobe isn’t Michael Jordan?

    Kobe is a narcissist but it is this persona that allows him to be great at the same time. It is definitely a double edge sword. I honestly believe he could score the points he scores with less shots. I believe he could score with less jump shots, fall aways with defenders all over him and more layups. If he took less 3′s and contested jump shots when he was cold he would be better off.

    Basketball is a team game and his own strong will and belief in himself blurs the line between individual performance and the team game.

    I love Kobe Bryant he has produced a lot of winning years for the Lakers. I just haven’t always agreed with his shot selection or shooting efficiency and believe he could do better.

    But what do I know, I am idiot!

  • Joe Black

    Read fan’s comments on any sports blog, and you can’t argue against that assessment. Stick around for a few minutes, and for sure fans will start calling each other idiots.

    Read the insane drivel written by most in the media attemtpting to sell their newspapers, magazines and webstites, and the argument is once again confirmed for the correctness of his statements.

  • http://yahoo ronald

    get off the MVP D_ _ _ K!!

  • http://yahoo ronald

    you all was not doubting him when they were stacking up back to back, and 3-peats championships! so get a life broke american Haters!!!!

  • Ranly

    I’m a huge Kobe fan ever since she scored 81 against my Raptors, but one thing you can not accuse him of, is been humble. KD 4 MVP

  • http://aol C-Man

    When You have agood game look at your shooting you take 40 shot to get 30 points check your self first and share the ball you have some great players on the team when they get the ball you will see it’s not all about you stop drinking your own kool aid

  • http://nba.com GP23

    Kobe uses his arrogance to fuel his self-esteem.. don’t any of you get that? Jeez!!
    Anyway, he’s still playing great ball despite the FG%. I still think he’s taking the Lakers to the Finals.

  • gee

    only a freakin idiot would!!!!!

  • Sam Crawford

    He’s right. Quit being so sensitive. Too much political correctness in the media. He’s allowed to have an opinion. None of us knows what he’s going through. People have their limits regardless of the nature of their job. I’ll bet most people who dislike Kobe for this, has said the same thing about a co-worker or boss. Don’t be a hypocrite.

    As for him taking shots… His gets PAID to be a “SHOOTING” guard. That’s his job!

    Like Jack said, “You can’t handle the truth!”

  • Bruce

    Frankly,Kobe is probably the idiot. The guy has been blessed by Laker management with pretty much the best front line in the NBA in about 13 of the 15 seasons he has played. In that time “his” team has won 5 titles with the most expensive roster in the game. With all the blessing given to him by Laker management,the guy almost never shares the glory or the ball with the big men who were more responsible than he was for those titles.
    The more his skills fade, the more desperate he becomes to take all the credit for whatever the team accomplishes while blaming the increasing number on losses on coaches and the big men who both shoot between 15 and 20% better than Kobe from the field and combined have probably taken less shots than Kobe has by himself. When you lead the league in scoring(cited as a great achievement by the media) and are shooting 42% from the field while the other scoring leaders in the league are over 50% and you have taken over 200 more shots than either of them,not to mention being about 3% under your Laker TEAM average, you are probably responsible for more Laker loses than wins by wasting so much time dribbling aimlessly while teammates go to sleep waiting for you to miss so they can rebound or the other team can rebound and take off on a fast break scoring opportunity.
    The older and less effective Kobe gets,the more his ego takes over. All he is proving now is that his goal is not winning or leading a strong TEAM, it is to catch Kareem as the highest scorer in NBA history before the Lakers wise up and figure out that what he brings in at the box office is not worth giving up the future of the the Laker franchise for a decade or so.

  • DavidB

    Everyone is an idiot but KOBE. Go figure.

  • RunNGun

    Kobe is not getting another ring.

  • abaci

    At this stage in his career, he should just mention the rings and let this small stuff slide. I think he is going to play for 2-4 more years, so this kind of talk is only going to increase. He should should get used to brushing this stuff aside.

  • dazzy

    A 40 point game, against the Warriors, taking a ridiculous amount of shots while barely passing isn’t impressive. The Lakers are done and it’s Kobe’s fault.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Agreed T-Money.
    But he’s right that there are lots of idiots in the world. He’s wrong that proof of their idiocy is determined by the fact that they question his shot selection. And I have heard anyone say “Kobe is done.” He just created a strawman argument because like Jordan before him, that’s what he does to get hype. You can’t take that seriously.

  • Daniel

    Kobe’s career may be nearing it’s end, but how about attributing his trouble shooting on.. Oh I don’t known.. The nonexistent ligaments in his wrist? The multiple injuries he plays with? Yes, the Lakers aren’t what they used to be, but let’s be honest, some critics were counting them out of the PLAYOFFS! Kobe has every right to call you and many others idiots. Your arguments are valid, his shooting is down, lakers struggle at times, but don’t ignore the lack of depth on the bench, mike browns new system, injuries etc.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    T-Money that’s where your wrong. He’s not “likable” to anyone. You ‘like’ him for his on the court accolades. I like him for his “never say die” and “I don’t give a f*ck” attitude. It’s always fun for me to see people talk the talk and then follow by walking the walk. But he’s a dick, that’s undeniable.

  • Jeremy

    You should of had your editor take a look at this before posting it! I guess that would have made you “work harder that ever” so you didn’t! Anybody who knows Kobe’s career at all knows he relishes in the hate! During last night’s telecast Bob Fitzgerald asked a question: “I would love to know what Kobe’s 3-point shooting percentage is in the last three minutes of the game.” Forget 3-22, or 81 point games, or struggling for three and a half quarters. Forget all of that! One thing is for certain, KB24 loves to be hated, and loves to use that to stick a fork in teams in the final minutes of games. i.e. Saturday, and Sunday night, he nailed 3′s to either put the dagger in, or seal the win for the LakeShow! When the Media criticizes the Lakers, as not having another man outside of Kobe who can create; how can you write he shoots to much! GET IT TOGETHER!!!

  • benkeys1

    Everybody that came into the league around the same time as Kobe has faded. KG 1 ring, T Mac no rings, Allen Iverson no rings Vince Carter hahahahaha !!!!!! Kobe is still playing at a high level. MJ said himself that Kobe is only player that could take the next MJ mantle. Losers don’t understand the winners mentality. You guys better stop listening to Charles Barkley and Chris Webber. Both losers.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Well people that said he’s over the hill after that 11 point game are idiots….

  • AQWORD

    true dat lakeshow he talks the talk 4 sho. I like him coz he had nice dunks. All the other stuff i seen done 100 times better before him by M.J. Kobe is a M.J. slurper for trying to steal his game & failing badly at it. I’m gonna enjoy his little crash & burn this year.

  • Dan

    Dizzy, get your facts straight before you open your mouth. Kobe scored 40 on like 26 shots and had 5 dimes. That’s while shooting over 50%. He was very efficient last night. The Lakers will go only as far as their effort takes them. If they play d and rebound, they can and will win another title.

  • AQWORD

    nbk is an idiot.

  • Raseven7

    I’m a major Kobe fan he doesn’t have ish to prove,cats been throwing shots at him for 16 years dude been a winner since high school,so to me he can say what he feels

  • http://yahoo.com Marcelle Waller

    Let me just say this Kobe is by far the best player in the league right now, and he is voicing his opinion because IDIOTS keep asking stupid questions. Reporter constantly ask the same questions over and over again which makes him having to answer them over and over again which is IDIOTIC. If he didn’t say anything then the reporters would say he’s not cooperating and being difficult; which by the way I wish he would do(not talk). This year’s NBA season is nothing but a farce because of the condensed schedule and all the injuries that have occurred to key players I only hope we as fans appreciate what these players are doing for us and themselves. The product that is being displayed night in and night out is for the most part sub-par. So with that said I applaud Kobe for speaking his mind and letting the IDIOTS know that he will continue to call them just that when they ask stupid questions.

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