Kobe on MDA, next Coach, Jimmy and Jeanie, and rebuilding

Post #1 » by **Kilroy** » Fri May 9, 2014 2:59 pm

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10906547/kobe-bryant-wants-role-picking-los-angeles-lakers-next-coach

Kobe Bryant, speaking publicly for the first time since Mike D'Antoni resigned from the Los Angeles Lakers, expressed apathy about the turn of events, while saying he would, however, like to have an active role in choosing a new coach.

"Honestly, I didn't care," Bryant said Thursday during a guest appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" when asked by Kimmel whether he was "happy" that D'Antoni accepted a buyout of close to $2 million for next season rather than coming back to coach the team.

"Mike was dealt a really bad hand in dealing with all the injuries that he had here," Bryant said. "This is a tough place, man. If you're not winning, you're not going to survive, man."....

Bryant hopes the Lakers will sing a different tune than they have in the past when it comes to consulting him about hiring their next coach.

"On the last two they didn't," Bryant said, referring to Mike Brown and D'Antoni, who both failed to endure the length of the initial contracts they signed with the Lakers before parting ways. "On the third one, I'm hoping they do."

"Jimmy and Jeanie both, they're just really determined and excited about the possibilities of next season and rebuilding this and building on their father's legacy and everything that he's accomplished," Bryant said. "And they're taking the challenge extremely, extremely seriously. They're both on the same page and they want nothing but excellence here, so I have no doubt that we'll make it happen."

Bryant did not identify any specific candidates he would like the Lakers to hire but said there is an "open-door policy" in place between him and Lakers management as the process plays out.

"We talk back and forth," Bryant said. "We'll text or I'll sit down with him."

spree8 · Post #2 » by **spree8** » Fri May 9, 2014 3:13 pm

I missed the show...glad he spoke up about the coaching situation, and it's good to hear about this open door policy. Thanks for posting dude.

Post #3 » by **crazyeights** » Fri May 9, 2014 3:30 pm

Good to know that Kobe's back to 100% healthy.

Watching the video, the tone of the interview is pretty light. So for context, when he says that the last two coaches he didn't get to discuss with the brass, but "On the third one, I'm hoping they do," that's very much a punchline.

Michael Lucky · Post #4 » by **Michael Lucky** » Fri May 9, 2014 3:56 pm

Do not give him any role in picking the next coach. He's not even going to be here in two years .

ak7 · Post #5 » by **ak7** » Fri May 9, 2014 4:20 pm

I don't think the Lakers are hiring a coach to give him a hall pass for the first 2 years of his deal. They want to win. Kobe should and will have a voice, and that's it.

Michael Lucky · Post #6 » by **Michael Lucky** » Fri May 9, 2014 4:32 pm

Yeah i'm sure kobe would just be great at picking a coach. Probably as good as he is picking a salary that would allow him to win another title.

Post #7 » by **TyCobb** » Fri May 9, 2014 4:38 pm

Michael Lucky wrote:Yeah i'm sure kobe would just be great at picking a coach. Probably as good as he is picking a salary that would allow him to win another title.

Can't do worse than the last two Front Office only hires.

Post #8 » by **crazyeights** » Fri May 9, 2014 4:40 pm

...you could: Mike Dunleavey.

Post #9 » by **crazyeights** » Fri May 9, 2014 4:41 pm

Kurt Rambis.

Post #10 » by **TyCobb** » Fri May 9, 2014 4:47 pm

For the record, I don't think Kobe will have any involvement in the head coach search, other than the first call after a decision is made and before it goes public.

Shot Clock · Post #11 » by **Shot Clock** » Fri May 9, 2014 5:06 pm

I think he's distancing himself from the D'Antoni debacle. Back when it happened he said he was involved before the decision.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... -available

"I spoke with Jimmy (Buss) before everything went down and we talked about some of the coaching candidates and stuff and to be honest, I said D'Antoni was my first choice because I didn't even know Phil was going to be an option," Bryant told reporters after Tuesday's shootaround, recalling his conversation with the Lakers' executive vice president of player personnel.

spree8 · Post #12 » by **spree8** » Fri May 9, 2014 5:38 pm

Shot Clock wrote:I think he's distancing himself from the D'Antoni debacle. Back when it happened he said he was involved before the decision.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... -available

"I spoke with Jimmy (Buss) before everything went down and we talked about some of the coaching candidates and stuff and to be honest, I said D'Antoni was my first choice because I didn't even know Phil was going to be an option," Bryant told reporters after Tuesday's shootaround, recalling his conversation with the Lakers' executive vice president of player personnel.

That's a contradiction to what he said on Kimmel. If he was consulted then why would he say he wasn't? Unless he's referring to being kept in the dark about Phil?

RamAthorn101 · Post #13 » by **RamAthorn101** » Fri May 9, 2014 5:52 pm

Let's hope Kobe sticks to rehabbing and lets the coaching decisions come from the front office ( hopefully Jeanie ) Kobe was all in on D' Antoni. He might suggest or want Rambis as head coach

Post #14 » by **Kilroy** » Fri May 9, 2014 5:54 pm

spree8 wrote:
Shot Clock wrote:I think he's distancing himself from the D'Antoni debacle. Back when it happened he said he was involved before the decision.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... -available

"I spoke with Jimmy (Buss) before everything went down and we talked about some of the coaching candidates and stuff and to be honest, I said D'Antoni was my first choice because I didn't even know Phil was going to be an option," Bryant told reporters after Tuesday's shootaround, recalling his conversation with the Lakers' executive vice president of player personnel.

That's a contradiction to what he said on Kimmel. If he was consulted then why would he say he wasn't? Unless he's referring to being kept in the dark about Phil?

He was definitely consulted... He was lobbying for MDA at the time... But I think that was before he knew Phil was interested in the Job... Once that happened I think he expected Phil was a lock for the job.

He's kind of talking out of both sides of his mouth here... He wants to be seen as the hero on the team that drive the FO to make the right decisions... But I think that's largely not the way it goes...

He's pissed they didn't hire Phil, not that they hired MDA... But making that distinction doesn't make him look good enough for him.

Shot Clock · Post #15 » by **Shot Clock** » Fri May 9, 2014 6:04 pm

spree8 wrote:
Shot Clock wrote:I think he's distancing himself from the D'Antoni debacle. Back when it happened he said he was involved before the decision.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... -available

"I spoke with Jimmy (Buss) before everything went down and we talked about some of the coaching candidates and stuff and to be honest, I said D'Antoni was my first choice because I didn't even know Phil was going to be an option," Bryant told reporters after Tuesday's shootaround, recalling his conversation with the Lakers' executive vice president of player personnel.

That's a contradiction to what he said on Kimmel. If he was consulted then why would he say he wasn't? Unless he's referring to being kept in the dark about Phil?

In the same article he says he was made aware of Phil and was fine with Phil or D'Antoni.

"Then Jimmy was the one that brought up Phil's name," Bryant continued. "I said, 'I didn't even know that was a consideration.' They said, 'Well, it is and we want to know how you feel about it.' I said, 'I love it,' and that was it. So they knew my two guys that I liked and if one didn't work out, obviously with Phil, they knew that they had my approval to pull the trigger on the other one."

TonyMontana · Post #16 » by **TonyMontana** » Fri May 9, 2014 7:01 pm

Kobe flips on his comments more than Mitt Romney does!! Sure Kobe if you say so. ;-)

Post #17 » by **dockingsched** » Fri May 9, 2014 7:29 pm

Mitch was already very clear that Kobe won't be consulted

ak7 · Post #18 » by **ak7** » Fri May 9, 2014 7:33 pm

Michael Lucky wrote:Yeah i'm sure kobe would just be great at picking a coach. Probably as good as he is picking a salary that would allow him to win another title.

Seeing as he was presented with that contract offer and that was made very clear by Jeanie, I wouldn't expect him to turn it down. Would you turn down 48 million staring you in your face and say "no you know what, I only want half that." :roll:

kblo247 · Post #19 » by **kblo247** » Fri May 9, 2014 9:17 pm

Just putting it out there.

Mike Brown - he said he found out on espn that he was hired. He endorsed Shaw and Adleman, most the **** team endorses Shaw as they in their exit meetings before the lockout. They just were ignored and Shaw wasn't even given a courtesy call.

Dantoni - he like Dwight, Metta, Pau, and Mah were asked about Dantoni, Dunleavy, and later told Phil was a choice. They were ranking guys and Kobe, Pau, Dwight, and Metta all said they wanted Phil. Nash endorsed Dantoni over Phil and Jim Buss said as much on espn la radio when he said he was sold on the idea Nash would be maximized by dantoni and everyone else by Nash.

Kobe's first choices haven't been hired at all, and it's fair to say he could pick a better coach since the last two were ass by Jim and Mitch

FFS picking between Dubleavy and Dantoni is like shot or stabbed to death

kblo247 · Post #20 » by **kblo247** » Fri May 9, 2014 9:41 pm

Let me also say I see a dif between consultation and opinion. He was asked which he preferred from the other two Mikes after Brpwn was fired by accounts. I think consultation goes something along the lines of what do you look for in a coach (x/o, rotations, vocal, how they handle the media, and all).