Since the Lakers drafted D’Angelo Russell in the 2015 NBA Draft, Laker fans around Los Angeles are walking with a spring in their step. There’s hope around this franchise for the first time in a long time and it feels good.
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Kobe Bryant was quiet after the draft, but today he spoke with ESPN’s Jamele Hill as part of the BET Genius talks that were being held in Los Angeles. Hill asked Bryant a variety of questions and did a great job of interviewing the Mamba.
Kobe was asked a pretty interesting question and the cerebral Bryant didn’t give her the response she was looking for, but did admit that he can be very hard on his teammates. (via Baxter Holmes of ESPN):
Hill: Worst thing you’ve ever said to a teammate?
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) June 28, 2015
Kobe: I have made somebody cry before.
Bryant made somebody cry? It’s not surprising. The Mamba is a fierce and ruthless competitor and he expects you to have that same mentality. He’s all about winning and if you don’t bring that same type of fire, Bryant won’t be shy to speak his mind.
Bryant later said that he’s told a teammate to consider a different profession:
Kobe did say that he once told a teammate to “reconsider your life purpose.”
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) June 28, 2015
You can’t blame the guy for wanting to win. He’s one of the greatest players of all time and has five championships because he wants to win so bad. His old teammates rave about his dedication to the game as a young kid and it’s never wavered.
This is why Bryant doesn’t get along with some of his teammates. If you’re not committed to winning a title, he is going to have a problem with you. You can’t blame the guy for wanting to win.