Came down to San Antonio to interview Kobe Bryant and get a story for the Mavericks-Spurs game on Thursday in AAC and what a great interview several of us had with Bryant.
He was funny throughout, joking about rumors of where he was going to be traded. At one point, when he was asked about rumors that he was going to come to Dallas, he said: "I think they've got me playing on Mars, too."
Mark Cuban admitted the Mavericks inquired about Bryant. Who wouldn't? But Cuban said Dirk Nowitzki was untouchable and the Lakers responded that so was Bryant.
The idea that Dallas could get Bryant without trading Dirk was ludicrous. Only one way that happens and that's if Bryant lays down on the job -- if he purposely dogs it on the court. And one thing about Bryant -- he's much too proud to do that and too concerned about his legacy.
Let me put it this way. If I'm the Mavericks, I tell the Lakers, "You can have every player on our team except Dirk. You can have Howard, Harris, Terry, Stackhouse -- everybody except Dirk -- and we'll take Bryant and whatever you want to throw in to make it work under the cap."
And you know what? Unless, again, Kobe had quit on the team, the Lakers would never do it.
The rumors of Bryant being traded to Chicago were stronger and there were also rumors about a Kobe-Gilbert Arenas deal in Washington. So with Kobe joking about everything, someone asked him:
“Did you enjoy your career more as a Maverick, a Bull or a Wizard.”
“As a Celtic,” Bryant said, and laughed . “Hawk maybe. Naw, it’s crazy. It gets to a point where you laugh about it.”
-- Jan Hubbard
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