Lake Show Life
Fansided

Jackson on Kobe: ‘It May Be His Last Year as a Laker’

By Tyler Lopez

facebooktwitterreddit

Boy does Phil Jackson know how to make headlines. Los Angeles Lakers fans are all too familiar with Jackson’s unique ability to garner attention through the media. At Friday’s news conference for the New York Knicks Jackson was at it again.

More from Lakers News

When asked if he thought this was Kobe Bryant‘s last season Jackson responded with:

“I don’t think it’s his last year,” Jackson said. “Sounds like maybe his last year as a Laker, but I think that’s kind of what came out of there.”

Cue the alarms! Of course Jackson would come out with a comment like that. Jackson is known for using the media to get his way. He did it often with his players and in fact Bryant himself called Jackson out for his use of the media.

In February of this year Bryant told GQ magazine in an interview that Jackson would use the media against him.

Per GQ Magazine:

"He would take shots at me in the press… Another thing was that I would go to him in confidence and talk about certain things, and he would then use those things to manipulate the media against me."

Bryant was quick to point out that by manipulating the media to upset Bryant, Jackson helped drive Bryant even further than he already was. Bryant was eager to be great.

"‘I’m done with this guy. I’ll play for him and win championships, but I will have no interaction with him.’ Yet at the same time, it drove me at a maniacal pace. Because either consciously or unconsciously, he put a tremendous amount of pressure on me to be efficient, and to be great, and to be great now."

In April of 2010 Jackson admitted to the press that he manipulated referees and that to him it was a form of gamesmanship. In that interview, which take place after Game 3 of the First Round of the 2010 Playoffs, Jackson was critical of the referees giving Kevin Durant too many free throw attempts.

Two games later in Los Angeles, Durant took only six free throws and had maybe his worst game of the series.

There have been rumors that Carmelo Anthony is recruiting Durant and Bryant to join the Knicks next summer in Free Agency. Jackson’s comments seem to be in line with that line of thinking.

However, Bryant has made it abundantly clear over the last few years that he has no interest in leaving the Lakers. Bryant told Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports in an interview almost a year ago that he has no intentions of leaving.

Per Yahoo Sports:

"I’ve enjoyed a great amount of success here. You can’t just enjoy the successful times and then run away from the bad ones. No, I don’t even think about [departing]. I’m a Laker."

Bryant went on to say that he’s extremely loyal to the franchise, and he bleeds purple and gold. Jackson might have to slow down a bit here because Bryant has put his foot down: he’s not leaving Los Angeles.

Next: Kupchak Likes Lakers Playoff Chances

More from Lake Show Life

Home/Lakers News