he just wanted to get in on those "no show" classes.
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he just wanted to get in on those "no show" classes.
Multiple threads. This is only the most recent one. I guess the rivalry extends to bragging rights to an NBA superstar of questionable character.
Not that it matters, but this might be the kind of thing he says to get on Mitch Kupchak's good side in order to continue making $30 million a year despite a clear deterioration of physical ability and a poor performance so far as an elder Laker ambassador. He wants to remain a Laker and win another title, but not take a pay cut. Any GM can tell you that the Lakers are better off getting two free agents at max contracts than one free agent and an albatross.
Also, with near-zero chance of playing in the 2016 Olympics, it costs him nothing to turn away from Coach K and Duke fans. Such a statement can help if it works, and has no effect if it doesn't. Personally, I prefer this revisionist history.
As many posters have noted, this is really a non-issue regardless because Kobe didn't go to college. IMO, there are many people in the sports media that are questioning how sincere and truthful Kobe is being with this new revelation. That said, I tend to believe Kobe would've gone to Duke when you have multiple people including Kobe's HS coach (who said back then that K and Kobe had an unbelievable connection and bond during Kobe's HS days and that Kobe wanted to play for K), K and Kobe himself say that he would've gone to Duke had he attended college. And if IC posters want to believe that a rift happened between K and Kobe at the Olympics, God bless them; but all one has to do is look at the end of gold medal game in London to see the heartfelt hugs between K and Kobe to know that a rift developed simply isn't true.
If anything, maybe Kobe is jealous of all the attention that the media has made between Lebron and K; and K now saying that Lebron is the best player in the NBA now. For a prideful player like Kobe (and I don't mean that in a bad way), hearing that would be the equivalent of HB (or Kobe) choosing to go to UNC over Duke for Duke fans, especially when many thought HB was going to Duke.
I believe K and Kobe still maintain a strong relationship; and for all we know this could still be another way of Kobe needling K.