Monday, March 4th, 2013 at 4:40 pm  |  84 responses

Kobe Bryant Says He Would Have Smacked Serge Ibaka in the Mouth for Groin Chop


With the Los Angeles Lakers set to face off with the OKC Thunder tomorrow night, Kobe Bryant was asked about Serge Ibaka’s vicious chop to Blake Griffin‘s groin area on Sunday. Ibaka claims that he wasn’t trying to hurt the LA Clippers star forward. Kobe claims that he would’ve retaliated immediately and dealt with the searing pain later, which sounds impossible. Per the LA Daily News: “I probably would have smacked him in the mouth,’ Bryant said after practice Monday at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo. Griffin didn’t get the chance to do that. He understandably slumped to the ground. ‘I would’ve dealt with the pain afterwards,’ Bryant said. It remains to be seen what the NBA will do. Ibaka’s foul surprisingly didn’t result in an ejection, which a play that coincided with the Clippers taking a 100-99 lead with 1:30 left after scoring seven unanswered points. But to the Clippers’ frustration, Ibaka then scored on a three-point play. The Thunder afterwards insisted Ibaka meant no ill intent. But replays clearly show Ibaka deliberately fouled Griffin in the groin area. The NBA is currently reviewing the play, which may result in Ibaka’s suspension when the Lakers (30-30) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (43-16) at Chesapeake Energy Arena.”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , , , ,

Newer Comments →
  • roscoe

    Ibaka has no friends!

  • theDankerNuggets

    haha awesome!

  • RvE

    Who cares what Kobe thinks about this anyway?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Junior-Taylor/100003121138419 Junior Taylor

    Chris Childs begs to differ.

  • The Philosopher

    Reggie Miller, too.

  • bike

    “‘I would’ve dealt with the pain afterwards,’ Bryant said.” Anyone who can postpone the pain associated with a shot to the nuts is not human. More likely reptilian in nature. Like the Mamba.

    You really have to love Kobe at times.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    Agree that Kobe is being a complete douche here by taking the reporter’s bait, but people keep bringing this fight up as if it was recent or something. It took place 13 years ago when he was 21 years old.

    Kobe is not a tough guy, but he doesn’t just lay down in terms of physical play – he retaliates quite often. Since the Childs incident, he’s laid out Mike Miller for hitting him, elbowed Ron Artest in the neck, taunted and gone at Raja Bell, “accidently” hit a bunch of players, talked sh*t to Matt Barnes face and not flinched, went after Rondo, etc.

    I doubt he’d punch Ibaka like he claims, but he probably would have done a lot more than Griffin did.

  • The Philosopher

    Griffin gets physically humiliated too often by physically lesser players to be the specimen that he is.
    He is borderline soft, and only is able to do what he does, because of his physical attributes.
    In my judgement.
    If he had the belly of a Karl Malone… he’d already be an all – time power forward.
    Right now.
    Again, in my opinion.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    Remember early on when Griffin used to get into altercations (without retaliating) and then start chewing on his mouthpiece and staring down the opponent like he was Charles Oakley?

    BTW, I too miss the days when Kobe couldn’t handle Reggie Miller’s 125 lbs a**.

  • RedDragon10

    I believe him.

  • The Philosopher

    The kid from Indiana convinced me that Blake Griffin is not “that guy”.
    When I saw that, I was convinced that Griffin will never become the G.O.A.T. power forward that his attributes say he can and should become.
    He’s still very, very good, but…

  • …

    Its not Kobe taking the bait from the reporters. When one of the leagues biggest stars reacts to the media about a dirty play against another player-team he gets the NBA´s attention and they will look into it even further. Kobe is smart and he wants this looked into so that Ibaka gets suspended for the game against the Lakers…

  • LakeShow

    Taylor, everytime you bring this up you look like an idiot.

    Did you see Kobe back down from him or something?
    Cause your eyes are deceiving you… if you did.

    You Kobe haters, clutch onto a NOBODY trying to become a somebody by getting physical with the greatest player of the last decade plus.

    What else is Chris Childs famous for? Go ahead, i’ll wait…. *Crickets*

    We wouldn’t know his name if he didn’t punch KB.

    If I was a undrafted nobody, maybe i’d try to make a name off of a true great, but I would hope no one would praise me for it.

  • http://twitter.com/apowellAdvocate Allen Powell II

    So would Doug Christie

  • http://twitter.com/apowellAdvocate Allen Powell II

    No, Raja Bell clotheslined Kobe and Kobe did not do anything. Keep it 100.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Junior-Taylor/100003121138419 Junior Taylor

    Damn…my dude, it’s not that serious. There was no need for lengthy paragraphs detailing why Childs is a nobody.
    Also. TD not Kobe is the greatest player of the last decade.

  • DarLai

    I’m a Kobe fan, but let’s be serious. Kobe wouldn’t have punched anyone in the mouth, because he’d get penalized too. Blake’s not soft, he’s just not stupid.

  • SpaceghostJesus

    hes a heisman winner bro

  • LakeShow

    It’s serious enough for you to bring it up anytime KB’s toughness is in question.
    Critics, ball players, coaches, talking heads, and analysts overwhelmingly agree with me that Kobe is greater than Timmy boy.

  • LakeShow

    Playoffs.
    Smart ass move by KB.
    SMART move.

  • LakeShow

    When did Christie hit him in the nuts?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5A2Q-uO014

  • http://www.facebook.com/Brill86 Andrew Woods

    Chris Childs told Kobe, “You gon get this work”….I guess he forgot that his ‘killer instincts’ only work when making shots not throwing the hands

  • LakeShow

    My B! I take it all back.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Brill86 Andrew Woods

    ummm “greatest player of the last decade”? yea only if the greatest player of the last decade wasn’t named Lebron. Greatest winner of the last decade most certainly tho.

  • http://twitter.com/apowellAdvocate Allen Powell II

    I don’t disagree. But keep the record straight. Kobe has never “gone at” Raja,or anyone else.

  • LakeShow

    No, sorry, you can’t be a rookie averaging 41% FG’s and be considered on KB’s level…

  • http://twitter.com/apowellAdvocate Allen Powell II

    Christie punched him in the face. Hard as hell. And he didn’t smack anyone. Just acknowledge that he has never “smacked” anyone.

  • LakeShow

    Define “gone at.”
    We’re talking about basketball still right? These guys have a profession called basketball, and KB has ‘gone at’ Raja more than anyone in the NBA.
    Are we really trying to decide who’s the toughest fighter? They play basketball… This is dumb if we are talking about fighting.

  • http://twitter.com/apowellAdvocate Allen Powell II

    So, you honestly felt that “gone at” had to do with Kobe playing hard? That’s your final answer boss? Come on man. There is no player on EARTH that Kobe doesn’t go hard at, and there is no situation on a court where he ever takes it easy.
    You knew “gone at” had nothing to do with playing ball. I don’t think it makes Kobe a coward, I just think he and other people should stop talking reckless. It’s been documented that he wouldn’t have smacked anyone for anything. That’s not how he rolls.

  • up.urs

    Duncan. That is all.

  • http://twitter.com/apowellAdvocate Allen Powell II

    You realized Kobe shot 41 percent from the field as a rookie and averaged 10 fewer points than LeBron right?
    Son, you really, REALLY need to spend some time on Basketball Reference.

  • http://twitter.com/conorklnohara Ó hEaghra

    Why do people think LeBron or Duncan or Shaq was the best when the VAST majority of NBA players say it was Kobe? What’s the matter with you?

  • http://twitter.com/conorklnohara Ó hEaghra

    Said 10% of actual NBA players.

  • Smuckin Fart

    Charlie Ward

  • robb

    I’m not gonna say anything negative about the great Timmy D. but he’s second after Kobe. Greatness is more than numbers and percentages. Kobe’s the greatest. Hate all you want that’s the truth.

  • Wario

    youre an idiot just cause he said it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t fall over.
    stupid fanboy

  • http://www.facebook.com/shooting.guard.319 Shooting Guard

    i definetly remember the chris childs moment

  • Caboose

    “No situation on a court where he ever takes it easy.” Um, defense?

  • Caboose

    No, because stats are the enemy of the Kobe lover. Lake doesn’t need stats; his own observations are word of law.

  • Kadavour

    i would love to see Kobe in a fight now. on the low-low he studied Jeet Kun Do (Bruce Lee’s style) for a couple years. Maybe he still does.

  • The Fury

    If he continue to improve he may be. Let’s just see how he evolve his play. During the Mailman’s early years, nobody at that time would have thought that he would be an all time great PF right?

  • The Philosopher

    True. True, indeed.

  • shockexchange

    The Shock Exchange knows it sounds a little far fetched that Horry Jr would have smacked Ibaka … look on the bright side, at least he didn’t say “If it had been me, I woulda passed the ball to the open man.” Now that woulda been cray.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    Kobe’s longevity and consistency from 2000-2010 (and 5 titles in that time) outweigh Duncan’s longevity/dominance, which faded after 2007 and stopped at 4 rings.

    “Greatest” also encompasses more than just basketball (otherwise Russell or KAJ would be #1).

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    I think you’re thinking of Christie punching Rick Fox..I’m pretty certain Kobe has never been punched in the face in the NBA by anyone other than Childs.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    No one is going to be using martial arts in an NBA game surrounded by 8 other players and 3 referees tugging at your jersey.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    Fair, he didn’t retaliate at that moment (nor should he have given the ircumstances), but he has “gone at” Bell before:

    “When the teams met in November, Bell came away with a bloody lip. Two of Bryant’s 14 technical fouls during the regular season were assessed after shoving matches with Bell.”

    “Bell has complained throughout this series about how “I continually get hit in my face” by Bryant elbows ”

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2006/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2435643

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    He has gone at him, just not in terms of punches (which would be moronic for KB to do). Bryant has shoved him, elbowed him, etc.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509819249 Gaurav P.

    Lebron was a much much much much much much much better player than Kobe was during his first 4 years in the league – its not even close. Frobe was way too erratic for his own good.

    Kobe didn’t become “Kobe” until 2000-2001.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Christie punched Rick Fox man.

Newer Comments →
Advertisement
Counterkicks