Jackson questions Kobe's commitment
‘He hasn't thrown his heart and soul into performing,’ Lakers coach says
 Mark Avery / AP "I'm ready to play. Period," Kobe Bryant said in response to Phil Jackson's comments questioning his commitment. "You don't have to worry about me." |
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - After Kobe Bryant didn't practice Saturday because of a sprained right wrist, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he expected Bryant to play Tuesday night in the season opener against the Houston Rockets, but he was critical of Bryant, questioning his commitment, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.
"Obviously he hasn't thrown his heart and soul into performing on the floor," Jackson said, the Times reported. "That hurts me a little bit. . . . He was going to work at this thing and (would) put his full being into this. Right now, he's having a hard time doing that."
Bryant shot back with comments of his own.
"That (should be) the least of (Jackson's) concerns or anybody's concerns," Bryant told the Times. "You don't have to worry about that. . . . I'm ready to play. Period. You don't have to worry about me."
Bryant didn’t travel to Las Vegas with the team and his status was day-to-day, Lakers spokesman John Black said. Bryant was injured after Utah center Mehmet Okur struck him Tuesday night in an exhibition game in Anaheim.
The Lakers and Chicago Bulls have been having daily talks about a Kobe Bryant trade, ESPN reported Saturday.
According to the report, the Lakers have asked for Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, but the Bulls do not want to give up that much for Bryant. The other problem is that Bryant would likely not want to play in Chicago if the Bulls gave up that much talent to get him.
ESPN reported that there are two camps within the Lakers organization — one in favor of keeping him, one in favor of trading him — which is complicating matters. The report also cited an unnamed source as saying that any Bryant trade seemed less likely now than it did a couple of days ago.
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