Kobe: won't be a next Kobe, guys now won't hurt each other feelings too buddy-buddy

[hazenuts]

Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal clear the air in wide-ranging podcast - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPN

Great podcast by these two great players, worth a listen guys. I found this response by Kobe interesting to the question if he will see another young guy like him coming up.

O’Neal asked Bryant if he saw the “next Kobe” out there.

“Man, nah, I’m kind of old-school, man,” Bryant said. “You have certain players that have that aggressiveness and that mentality. It’s tough to tell. It’s a different generation. I grew up playing against Michael and [Gary Payton] and all these stone-cold assassins. John Stockton and all these guys. So I had that mentality. You don’t really see that kind of mentality around the league nowadays. Everybody is buddy-buddy and don’t want to hurt each other’s [feelings].”

[UltimateDeron]

Love it. 90's NBA was the best. Much different mentality back then.

[the mesiah]

Especially with all the AAU circuit, junior Team USA,social media that's out different generation and different society ..won't ever be like the ole days,

[IronMonkey415]

It's all about going out for ice cream and having a drink together after the game now-a-days.

Bunch of pansy ass cupcake eating, smoke weed all day generation.

[xavieronly1]

That's why you don't get people to play for Lakers, Kobe...

[Kefka891]

Originally Posted by xavieronly1

That's why you don't get people to play for Lakers, Kobe...

He has 5 rings. I doubt it bothers him.

[paul06901]

It's good that there are still a few players in the NBA who fit the "90s mold" when it comes to that "aggressive" mentality.

Like:

Russell Westbrook
Kobe Bryant



and ... I guess that's it?

NBA is now about fashion and 1-on-1 street-ball dribbling moves... (I do realize that RW is about that fashion game too lol)

[xavieronly1]

Originally Posted by Kefka891

He has 5 rings. I doubt it bothers him.

Check his interview about Spurs and Duncan. Duncan is still chasing for ring every year.

Kobe? hmmm

[asujbl]

It's like the kid at school that has no friends, justifying he has no friends, because they just aren't cool enough to be his friends.

Is Kobe super aggressive? Absolutely.

Is he a jerk that no one wants to be friends with? Absolutely

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by asujbl

It's like the kid at school that has no friends, justifying he has no friends, because they just aren't cool enough to be his friends.

Is Kobe super aggressive? Absolutely.

Is he a jerk that no one wants to be friends with? Absolutely

Spot on.

Originally Posted by IronMonkey415

It's all about going out for ice cream and having a drink together after the game now-a-days.

Bunch of pansy ass cupcake eating, smoke weed all day generation.

Also....spot on.

[BoxBreaker72]

Kobe is right. It's a different era for better or worse without question.

[Litwing]

Why still so many players get hurt now?

[ljandkg]

Originally Posted by paul06901

It's good that there are still a few players in the NBA who fit the "90s mold" when it comes to that "aggressive" mentality.

Like:

Russell Westbrook
Kobe Bryant



and ... I guess that's it?

NBA is now about fashion and 1-on-1 street-ball dribbling moves... (I do realize that RW is about that fashion game too lol)

I don't think Kevin Garnett does ice cream with opponents after games.

(cue honey nut cheerios joke)

[Skybox]

Originally Posted by UltimateDeron

Love it. 90's NBA was the best. Much different mentality back then.

No offense but 80's NBA >>>>>>>>>>> 90's NBA ... And it's not close

80's were the Golden Age of the Association

[kairi-2008]

Originally Posted by Skybox

No offense but 80's NBA >>>>>>>>>>> 90's NBA ... And it's not close

80's were the Golden Age of the Association

I agree, 90's was still awesome.
There will be plenty more Kobe personas in the NBA. Russell is an example of a current player.

[BigAl83]

Originally Posted by Skybox

No offense but 80's NBA >>>>>>>>>>> 90's NBA ... And it's not close

80's were the Golden Age of the Association

Originally Posted by kairi-2008

I agree, 90's was still awesome.
There will be plenty more Kobe personas in the NBA. Russell is an example of a current player.

Honestly?

I'd take the 90's over the 80's any day of the week.

NBA has always been a Center dominated league, whoever had the best Center would be the instant favorite to win a Championship.
90's had Hakeem, David Robinson, Ewing, Shaq, Mourning, Mutombo. But the amount of (potential) HOF'ers for that decade is insane. Most of the teams alltime best players starred during the 90's: Stockton, Malone, Payton, Penny, Tim Hardaway, Mark Jackson, Mark Price, Kevin Johnson, Drexler, Richmond, Reggie Miller, Sprewell, Dumars, Barkley, Rodman, Kemp, Larry Johnson, Grant Hill, Mullin, Glen Rice, Mashburn, Kukoc, Glen Robinson etc.
Oh yeah and then there are those two Bulls players, Jordan and Pippen

The overall team talent was much and much better during the 90's. 80's was basically Celtics/Lakers and maybe early on Sixers and later on the Pistons. For the Lakers the 80's were a playground, back the then the West was the modern day East. Outside of one Rockets upset they faced minimal resistance.

Its the 90's, and it isnt even close!

[BigZigBoom]

Originally Posted by IronMonkey415

It's all about going out for ice cream and having a drink together after the game now-a-days.

Bunch of pansy ass cupcake eating, smoke weed all day generation.

LMAO!!!!!!!!!

[jumbogorilla]

Originally Posted by BigAl83

Honestly?

I'd take the 90's over the 80's any day of the week.

NBA has always been a Center dominated league, whoever had the best Center would be the instant favorite to win a Championship.
90's had Hakeem, David Robinson, Ewing, Shaq, Mourning, Mutombo. But the amount of (potential) HOF'ers for that decade is insane. Most of the teams alltime best players starred during the 90's: Stockton, Malone, Payton, Penny, Tim Hardaway, Mark Jackson, Mark Price, Kevin Johnson, Drexler, Richmond, Reggie Miller, Sprewell, Dumars, Barkley, Rodman, Kemp, Larry Johnson, Grant Hill, Mullin, Glen Rice, Mashburn, Kukoc, Glen Robinson etc.
Oh yeah and then there are those two Bulls players, Jordan and Pippen

The overall team talent was much and much better during the 90's. 80's was basically Celtics/Lakers and maybe early on Sixers and later on the Pistons. For the Lakers the 80's were a playground, back the then the West was the modern day East. Outside of one Rockets upset they faced minimal resistance.

Its the 90's, and it isnt even close!

Yeah, agree with this. 80's stars revived the country's interest in basketball, but 90's stars made it a global phenomenon.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by BigAl83

Honestly?

I'd take the 90's over the 80's any day of the week.

NBA has always been a Center dominated league, whoever had the best Center would be the instant favorite to win a Championship.
90's had Hakeem, David Robinson, Ewing, Shaq, Mourning, Mutombo.

This is so far from the truth...

Ewing, Mourning and Mutombo never won a thing. Hakeem only got his rings because Jordan "retired". Robinson couldnt win anything either until Timmy got there. Shaq had to go to LA and team up with Kobe to finally break-through.

The 90s were just as bad the 80s in term of lack of parity. It was Jordan and the Bulls and everybody else. In the 80s we at least had the Bad Boys, Bird and the Celtics and Showtime. Sixers werent bad either.

[hoopster3977]

Originally Posted by Skybox

No offense but 80's NBA >>>>>>>>>>> 90's NBA ... And it's not close

80's were the Golden Age of the Association

So exact, truly the renaissance of the NBA as we know it today, except no zone defenses, hand checking was legal and before expansion.

[kairi-2008]

Originally Posted by jumbogorilla

Yeah, agree with this. 80's stars revived the country's interest in basketball, but 90's stars made it a global phenomenon.

This is also true. But I think what the OP is referring to is the friendship level.
You did not in anyway speak to other players from other teams. The 80's was tough, 90's got softer, but not soft. Now days netball is tougher.
All the players are chummy mates after the game, do you think Larry Bird was hanging out with DrJ after a game ?
Maybe he was spending the weekends at Bill's for a BBQ ?

[kairi-2008]

Name some players from each decade that truly hated each.
80's will be a long list
There's a few from the 90's
Some in the 00's
Maybe 1 or 2 from the 10's
This post isn't about talent, future HOFers or great teams, but how the NBA has turned into a buddy social event.
The 80's by far outstrips any decade for laying your body on the line and getting it carried off the court.

[ninjacookies]

I know he catches flack, but I think Russell Westbrook is the closest thing this modern era has to having that same killer instinct that Kobe and MJ had. Problem is, sometimes he tries to do too much because of it. But I love him for at least putting himself on the line in all situations.

Rest of these guys are soft, or take vacations for stretches of the game.

[bdrr]

Well, it's the league driving it, not AAU. I think it's less friendship and more a ban on playing physical. Can't hand check. Can't use your forearms. If you so much as touch a guard driving to the basket they get a foul called. When the NBA decided that anything less than 95 points per game was damaging the appeal of the league they destroyed it.

You really can't be a stone cold assassin when it means fouling out of the game.

[goehring9]

Originally Posted by bdrr

Well, it's the league driving it, not AAU.

You really can't be a stone cold assassin when it means fouling out of the game.

I agree... it's all about managing the image, and the NBA is getting good at that. Theme song will soon be "Why Can't we Be Friends" by War