You can always count on Kobe Bryant for a few good quotes and sound bites.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Kobe dropped a few more gems regarding his age/experience, future in basketball and who has the best post game on Team USA. Here is what he had to say:
Asked what it’s like to be the old guy on the team, Bryant said, “I’m where everybody wants to get to. I just happen to be still playing.”
“Can you learn anything from these young guys?” he was asked.
Bryant: “No…. I don’t know if I know it all, but I know more than they do.”
When a news reporter suggested Bryant was the best U.S offensive player in the low post other than center Tyson Chandler, Bryant stopped the question.
“No, no, no,” Bryant said. “Not other than Tyson Chandler. I’m the best post player on this team, period. Tyson Chandler is not in that conversation.”
When asked about his imminent exit from the NBA Bryant has this to say:
“I don’t put much thought into (retirement), but it’s crossed my mind,” Bryant said. “When you’re accustomed to doing something your entire life and all of a sudden it’s gone, it takes a lot of adjustment.”
How many more seasons? “We’ll see. Not many.”
I agree with Kobe on having really nothing to learn from his Team USA teammates. Kobe has seen more in his 16 NBA seasons than almost all of his teammates combined, from championship runs, to trade rumors, to off-court drama. If anything, his teammates can learn from Kobe.
And as far as the best post game? Kobe only gets the edge because he has more experience playing out of the post than say, LeBron James. But that gap is closing quickly.
Some still view Kobe as one of the cockiest players in NBA history, which may very well be true. Love him or hate him, we should enjoy what high level of Bryant we have left because there will never be another like him.
-ALR
