After Knicks president Phil Jackson gave fans hope Kobe Bryant might be coming to the Garden, the Lakers star said it’s not going to happen. He’s not coming to New York, or anywhere else, unless it is as an opponent in Lakers purple-and-gold.
“A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships,” Bryant told Yahoo Sports at the Lakers’ media day on Monday in El Segundo, Calif.
“I’m a Laker, man. I’m a Laker for better or worse.”
The 37-year-old Bryant is in the last year of his contract with Los Angeles, a mega-deal that is paying him $23.5 million. It is Bryant’s 20th season in the NBA, and he remains undecided on whether it will be his last.
“I don’t think it’s his last year,” Jackson said last week while meeting with the media, barely waiting for the questioner to finish. Then he added with a smile: “Sounds like maybe his last year as a Laker, but I think that’s kind of what came out of there.”
Bryant will be a free agent next year, and Jackson’s comments stirred up thoughts of Bryant coming cross-country for a reunion. The 37-year-old shot that talk down before it even had time to build.
“I’m a Laker, man. How many times do I have to say that?” Bryant said. “Dude, I bleed purple and gold.”
The Knicks have his former coach in Jackson, teammate in Derek Fisher (going into his second season as coach) and his friend in Carmelo Anthony. They’ll also have James Dolan dollars to spend.
Jackson seemingly enjoys tweaking Lakers VP of basketball operations Jim Buss, who happens to be his fiancée Jeanie’s brother. Maybe Jackson was simply trolling when he was asked if he thought Bryant would retire after this season.
But according to Bryant, he won’t be going to the Knicks.