Kobe Bryant was a guest on ESPN radio this morning. Host Colin Cowherd starts the show by making small talk with Bryant, telling the Lakers superstar that he seems “like a pretty down to earth guy.” To which Bryant replies, “Really all I do is take a ball and put it in a basket.” At about the 5:30 mark, the conversation turns to Lamar Odom’s contract situation:
Cowherd: “I read these stories on Lamar Odom. It’s a tough call. Three years with the Lakers, five years with the Mavericks. This is his last big contract. I totally understand pro athletes. You guys have a very short time to make your money. Will you step in? Would you call Lamar?”
Bryant: “I have. You know how I handle these situations is — I communicate to them how much I care for them. Our team in particular has just grown extremely close. And so we all have a very close bond. So first and foremost, I want to look out for them as people. It’s always important to me that they do what’s best for them and their family. At the same time, it’s important that they know how much I want them back, and how much I enjoy playing with them. I would love for us to come back, and take another shot at this thing, but it’s very important to me that they do what’s right for them and their family as well.”
Bryant’s response is pretty generic, which was somewhat expected since he insisted he wouldn’t give Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak any off-season advice on personnel.
(Via Janis Carr)
