Before the Lakers took on the Sixers in Philly on Sunday, Andrew Bynum gave a few quotes about playing with Kobe that seemed to be throwing shots at the Superstar. Kobe Bryant responded to Bynum’s assertion that playing with him may have stunted his growth by agreeing with him.
“For sure, because when you’re playing with me you obviously have to sacrifice something. Same thing with me and Shaq. You kind of off-set each other to a certain extent. So, I mean, that’s true. When he gets back and he’s healthy, he’ll come out here and he’ll be the focal point of their attack and he’ll be getting the ball more and you’ll see big games from him more consistently.”
Kobe also had high praise for Bynum. In the past- well the recent pass, there was that time when Kobe was recording on video by fans saying to trade Bynum for Jason Kidd- Kobe has even said that Bynum reminded him of a young mamba.
“He can do everything,” Kobe Bryant said after Friday’s 102-96 Lakers win over the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center. “There really isn’t anything he can’t do.””The biggest thing for Andrew is just his health,” Bryant said. “. . . If he gets healthy, they have an incredible, incredible center.”
Kobe also had this to add about Andrew’s tempermant.
”He is a pretty even-keeled guy, but he has a temper which I always enjoyed because he was always kind of on edge,” said Bryant, “I just hope he gets healthy.”
I appreciate Kobe’s honesty. Most would expect Kobe to hit Andrew with one of his infamous one liners and watch him go in like he did on Smush Parker and Kwame Brown. But it’s obvious that he believes in Andrew talent. The health question is the biggest question mark. Especially considering Bynum turned down an $80 million dollar extension from the Lakers prior to the trade. Bynum wants his max deal, it’s all a matter of whose willing to take a gamble with his knees.
