Bryant and Bynum stories contradict: Is everything patched up or going down the tubes?

Apparently, Kobe Bryant has decided that fibbing is OK when it comes to looking good in the public’s eyes – either that or he’s confused about how to work those new-fangled gadgets they call cell phones. The Los Angeles Lakers star, who has been voicing his displeasure with the team’s front office for the past several months in regards to finding new talent and forming  a championship-winning team, was noted last spring for blasting Andrew Bynum – the 7-foot-tall sophomore center – who Bryant suggested should be traded for Jason Kidd. “Who wouldn’t want to get Jason Kidd?” Bryant is quoted saying, according to a story published Oct. 2 on the LA Times Web site.

Bryant was asked back in July whether he’d had any interaction with Bynum since voicing his opinion, and the Lakers star responded that he had talked to Bynum through text message. “Andrew and I didn’t talk, but we texted each other,” Bryant said. “That kid, he’s 17 years old. I don’t think he knows how to answer a phone,” the Kobester says. “He texts. I was in Rome and I texted him and he hollered back. I just let him know I was sorry how that stuff came out. He said he understood kind of where I was coming from. The frustration that I feel because I want to win right now. And that was that.” But when asked by an LA Times reporter at training camp this past Monday, Bynum repeated several times that he’s had no contact with Bryant, not even a text message from Rome. “Rome? Maybe that explains it; I didn’t get any text message,” or send any, Bynum responded to the reporter when asked about Bryant’s side of the story.

Regardless, the two teammates have seemed to put the incident behind them as much as possible and things seem to be running smoothly for the team at training camp in Honolulu. Now, as the team gears up for the season, speculations have turned over to which teams have a chance. The Lakers have pretty good odds according to most critics so far. Still haven’t got seats for this season? Get Lakers tickets at Stubhub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on October 8, 2007 - Post a comment