Kobe's true colours are being shown. It was always about him and still is. The guy was always a cancer of the highest order, a coach killer and a horrible teammate. No wonder no decent free agents won't consider signing with them until he's gone.

I'll never forget the 2004 Finals series when he decided to freeze out Shaq and try and win a Finals MVP of his own. He killed the Lakers that series shot them right out of it just kept chucking. The Pistons didn't even bother double teaming Shaq just put the much smaller Ben Wallace on him because they knew he wasn't going to get the ball anyway. Immediately after that series he got Shaq traded, Phil quit, Payton released and accused Malone of hitting on his wife and thus pushed him into retiring when he wanted to play on.

It was sad to see one player bring down his whole team like that on the sports biggest stage but no surprise Kobe was known for sometimes 'tanking' during his high-school games so he could try and hit game winners against over matched opposition.

It's not sad to see what he's doing to the Lakers now because they've always been his enablers. They played a large part in helping to create this monster so deserve every bit of it.

What is also fitting is that the 76ers have now avoided making NBA history in their own right, if they lost the 0-19 start to the season would've been the worst of all-time. They share the 0-18 record now with another team.

Kobe's last game in his hometown will certainly be remembered.

Kobe staying on is good business. Every Lakers games is going sell out to watch him play his last games, even if he is stinking it up. Im not even much of s fan of Kobe but I am half thinking about seeing him play. Also good business as it will setup the lakers with a better pick at the end of the season.

DEAR BASKETBALL (HATERS)
by Kobe Bryant

Dear Basketball,
Cover your leather ears,
Because you shouldn't hear
The words I’m about to shower
Upon all my doubters.

Who are my haters, you ask, sweet ball?
Well, some are midgets, others, too tall.
Some are less rich than me,
and most are real poor -
My haters are every single human being alive,
Not a few, but all.

Not just people, either,
but animals, dogs, and ghosts;
Nothing existing ever thought
I’d make threes on both coasts
Or hit a buzz shot.

To those who have booed me,
Both ball fans and ghouls,
My skills left you speechless,
My sweet plays made you fools.

To MJ, yes, you Michael,
You’ve always made me laugh.
With your tiny 'stache, little ring,
And store for art crafts.

To Magic and Kareem,
I’m the best Laker of all time.
And though I’ve been accused,
I was found innocent of sex crimes.

To LeBron James,
I’m sorry we never met.
Even if we did at some point,
You’re easy to forget.

To the scientists who failed me,
Tried to fix my bod but could not -
We shan’t speak again,
Until you can upload my mind
Into a b-ball robot.

To the dog on my street,
Who barks at my car -
Where’s your shoe deal,
And were you an All Star?

To the sharks in the ocean,
Hunting those fish -
You’ll never know the sound
of a basketball swish.

To those who think I suck now
Yes, that may be true,
But I’m a living piece of art,
So even my failure is cool.

And even though the Devil
May reclaim my soul soon,
Nothing’s gonna stop me
From shooting bricks at the moon.

Because there’s only one "Kobe Stopper,"
His name’s Father Time,
And he has my respect.
But if he ever talks shit,
A harsh poem from me,
he can surely expect.

Duncan is pretty clearly above Kobe. Duncan is in the 6-10 range while Kobe is in the 10-15 range.

Duncan is higher than Kobe for a hell of a lot more reasons than "he's a nice guy" lol

Name reasons Kobe is above him?

Other than he's scored more.

I'll just leave this here

http://www.landofbasketball.com/player_comparison/b/kobe_bryant_vs_tim_duncan.htm

It does leave out one important stat:

Rapes
Duncan 0
Kobe 1

Career stats (Duncan - Bryant)

PER: 24.4 - 23.1
Win shares: 203.2 - 172.3
Win shares/48: .211 - .175
Box plus/minus: 5.5 - 4.0
VORP: 87.7 - 71.8

So the advanced stats clearly favour Duncan.

Accolades (Duncan - Bryant)

Championships: 5 -5
Finals MVPs: 3 - 2
MVPs: 2 - 1
All-NBA teams: 15 - 15
All-Defensive teams: 15 - 12

Once again Duncan is ahead. Seems like Duncan has a fair argument over Kobe.

Duncan all day everyday for a whole bunch of reasons

Better player, better team mate, still able to play a good role on a really good team, etc, etc

Haha at the coach shouldn't allow it. The only thing he has brought to the table since he's been there is talking tough and kissing Kobe's ass!

Kobe is always must see tv because of the belief he has in himself over his teammates.

Who uses the word LOL in a basketball forum.

Homosexual partners
Duncan 1
Kobe 0

Kobe is back

a season long circle jerk

Where are the kobe haters now? dropped 31 including several clutch points in a win over a playoff calibre ball club. You'll find Kobe slow start is a matter of him getting his rhythm back after a lot of time injured over the past few years but make no mistake he still has the ability to lead this club to wins, as he showed today. All this talk of delusion and what on earth is he doing is extremely silly.

Vintage Kobe alright. 10 of 24

Also can someone explain how on earth 12th spot in the East is considered "playoff caliber"?

Kobe -6. Meanwhile, 39 year old Timmy D goes for an average 16 and 10 (7-11) and +11 in 19 minutes.

Congrats on your illustrious social career you spud

12th is a temporary position. This wizards team has made it into the playoffs and won a round the last two years. They also beat Cleveland this week. So how you love that

A temporary position based on 20-ish games. Playoff caliber means nothing. Milwaukee were a playoff team that got annihilated vs the cavs 4-0. After maybe the top 4 in the east it's just best of the rest making up numbers

Are you sure he didn't say most damaged

Kobe is not back.

Duncan was a top 5 player in the league for what 4-5 seasons of his career. Kobe was for 13 odd seasons. Kobe is by far the greater player, Duncan would also be horrible if he was coming off 3 end of season major injuries and playing with zero talent. Horrible comparisons above

For points scored he's greater.

And being a shitcunt teammate and rapist, he wins at that too.

Everything else is coming up Duncan

#569212 I guess every coach, player in the league today and recently retired all must be wrong who have collectively said Kobe is best player of his and this generation. greater than Duncan and LeBron, even Lebron's team mates have said this (Wade,Bosh and others). But yeah all the greats of the game and coaches are wrong, and a troll on a message board of course bringing up a phony rape case is right.

Tim Duncan would probably honestly say Brian Scalabrine was better than he was he's that humble. If you want someone who scores the ball like no one else (well scored anyway up until 3 seasons ago) you'd go Kobe, but the evidence is clear Duncan is the better player.

Also not sure how a rape case is phony when Kobe admitted that the woman didn't consent lol

evidence isn't clear. Why do all coaches and players who have played and be around the NBA agree Kobe is the best? They are better than any pointless advance stat.

Got a link to kobe saying that. Never happened

Sounds like admitting it to me. Woman was money hungry. Do we call Derrick Rose a rapist then? Hypocrite.

Later, in an emotional appearance before reporters at Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he helped lead the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships, a tearful Bryant for the first time acknowledged having sex with the woman but insisted it was consensual.

"I'm innocent," he said.

Sitting next to his wife of two years, Vanessa, he shook his head, shifted uncomfortably in his seat and pursed his lips as he said: "I sit here before you guys embarrassed and ashamed for committing adultery. You know, you go through the feeling of, 'If I could just turn back the hands of time.' ... But I'm innocent. And together, my wife and I and our family are going to fight these false accusations."

Someone hasn't read his statement when he settled aka didn't go to court and prove his innocence.

Anyway 4-19 (2-10 3s) yesterday. He's back baby!

Cheekily made the Lakers 15 points worse off when he was on the floor while he was at it. best player of his generation

Judge a career by one game at age 37 coming off 3 end of season injuries. People like you are hated. Continue to have no relevance in what you say

Oh man Isaac outlines how shit he's been this year. What will the lakers do without his 16 points on 30% shooting while hitting 1 of 5 threes? Apart from rocket up the ladder seeing as they'll actually pull some decent free agents at the end of the season

7/26 FG
4/20 FG
7/20 FG
1/14 FG
6/22 FG

This was 5 games in a row

Now there's also a 10-24 and a 4-19.

What a superstar. I would definitely have him in the top 50 players this year

same person clearly. no two people could be this dumb. enjoy shooting 0/0 and achieving nothing with your life. Kobe's better than your favourite player, it hurts, it shows

Kobe is barely better than ere this year lol

I didn't realise you were also in the NBA. Oh wait.

Hold all of these Ls. Should be used to it following the lakers

No I'm not in the NBA. Difference is I'm respecting the greats of our game not talking blindless sh*t about them. The era's best, just appreciate them before they're gone.

Yeah it's sucked going for the Lakers for 20 years and watching them win 5 championships and compete in 7 Finals. Just a really unfortunate choice in teams I made. Idiot

I'm guessing you're about 28 and picked them because they won a lot? Well done champ

Had gastro shouldn't have played. Typical box score fan

Should be on the coach to make changes Isaac. Byron has noted multiple times he is happy with how Kobe is playing, just the shots aren't falling. Lakers are trying to lose, he is getting a send off in each city, nothing seen since Jordan. It's a nothing season, I think you're reading too much into the growth of the Lakers. Losing is the best way forward, chances are they'll start to land FA after this season and be back as a .500 team soon.

"Judge a career by one game at age 37 coming off 3 end of season injuries. People like you are hated. Continue to have no relevance in what you say"

Tim Duncan is 39 and still killing it. Probably because he's not an idiot and doesn't push himself to play a stupid amount of minutes and actually trusts the team around him.

Kobe talks so much shit about expecting the best out of people.

Then allows himself to shoot under 30% and be completely useless this year.

True superstar