NBA / Oct 15, 2009 / 11:40 am

Stephen Jackson: “I’m Not A Fan Of Kobe”

By

Stephen Jackson & Kobe Bryant

“I’m not a fan of Kobe. I’m not somebody who looks up to him. I’m a grown man myself. So when I go out there and play the game, I play the game.”

While most NBA two guards won’t come out and say it as publicly, I believe they’d agree with Stephen Jackson. Because as any competitor knows, to truly be the best you can’t be afraid of anybody.

Think about an NBA film session. When Ray Allen is watching tape and looking over assignments for the Lakers game, is he thinking, “But Kobe is the MVP.” No. While he certainly understands the task at hand, Ray can appreciate someone else’s skills and talent but isn’t going to be wearing a KB24 jersey when he’s playing pickup.

This summer when I was in Chicago for a photo shoot with O.J. Mayo, I asked him about how Kobe has always been his favorite player, but how things changed once he got to the League.

“He was my favorite, this is until I went up against him,” said Mayo. “I can only appreciate his game now. We’re all fighting for the same thing.”

If you ask me, Mayo couldn’t have said it better. Whether it’s a victory, a playoff berth, a championship or a contract, there’s only 30 starting two guards in the NBA and thousands more that are trying to take their job. So once you’ve made it, it’s every man for himself. (re: Iverson crossing MJ)

“I feel like I’m just as good as him,” says Jackson. “I might not get the publicity or notoriety he gets, but I feel like I can play with anybody in the NBA any given night.”

And while 99 out of 100 people would beg to differ and say that the Mamba would put the player formerly known as Capt. Jack in the hyperbolic chamber of doom, Jackson has a point. He should feel like he’s just as good as him. If I was his teammate, I’d be telling him that before the game, during the game and after the game. Because if you hit the floor with a lack of confidence, a guy like Kobe will eat you alive.

What do you think? If you were a competitor in the NBA, would you be a fan of Kobe?

Source: Oakland Tribune

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  • dreams

    This is a stupid article.
    Every young ball player has a hero growing up; (Kobe,Jordan)
    Obviously if a kid makes it big time and makes the association he’s gonna have butterflies if he’s checking Kobe or Nash, but there gonna eventually mature and realize it’s a game and it’s all about the rings.

    & Stephen Jackson’s retarded

  • Sacto_J

    If you want to point out ignorance DC, keep spouting dumb shit like “the spurs are rebuilding,” cuz last I checked, they haven’t done anything but let go of washed up role players for fresh ones. Then there’s your point of “real cats move in silence”, yet you have the most posts in this thread. You tried to bully for Kobe today and got your ass showed up and stuffed, now go home and have momma put the cream on it….

  • Nevacare

    Hell No. Kobe wouldn’t be a fan of yours. Case & point when Kobe & Dwight Howard got tangled up fighting for a loose ball in the Finals, Kobe ripped it away from him & things got heated Kobe was pissed Dwight tried to laugh it off like “But We’re Supposed To Be Friends”.He made Dwight Howard look like the “NBA’s Biggest Wuss”. That’s when I agreed that Superman is talented but doesn’t have IT mentally.That’s why he won’t win

  • Nevacare

    TO ALL YOU CATS on Here LEAVING COMMENTS. We’re all supposed to be sports fans not Fu**in Groupies. Ya’ll are cat fighting like ya’ll have man-crushes on these athletes. I have my FAVES too, but Enough is enough.It’s cool to argue your point,cause I love to bust somebody’s chops too & that’s the point of BLOGGing.Remember these guys have people that they pay to be there publicist & promote them. They probably wouldn’t even spit in your direction if you spoke to them in public.REAL SH*t

  • Nevacare

    And for the record I happen to like the way Captain Jack plays. He plays his butt off & competes. He could be a bit more professional off the court.The Dude is HOOD. But hey I don’t want him to meet my parents I want him to win B-Ball Games. I’d take him on my team anyday,probably not for that monster contract that he has but I’ll take him

  • arisloco

    Kobe only gets a lot of help from the refs. What more now that the replacement refs are kissing Kobe’s ass? More calls to come in favor of Kobe. This just ain’t right. Damn!

  • http://twitter.com/Monsterko8e @MonsterKo8e

    Stephan Jackson amazes me. He’s a comedian. I lmao when he said he’s just as good as “The Monster Kobe” on any given night. I’m sorry Ms.Jackson Wooooooo, I am fo reaaaaal…but your most notable part of your career was “fight night” in Detroit. You have no tittles, no jumper, no leadership & no rings! Maybe a toe ring but that’s it. I don’t even recall you competing for a ring, so you’re not even as good as 2nd place. Listen up young-old man-respect the game, your team, your coaches, & players far greater than you…ALA KOBE :-)

    Twitter me @MonsterKo8e

  • KnicksFan

    Actually Jackson does have a ring with the Spurs…And Jackson is not good as Kobe but has the right to think so..Im not a Kobe fan and definitely wouldn’t be if I were in the league with him.. I appreciate his skills but thats it. Kobe is an ass.

  • Jazz Man

    Well If He’s That Good Please Name 10 Let Alone 5 2 Guards That Start That He Is Crushing Day & Night On The Court?????

  • Reddi Red

    @ Nevercare. .. . . good points!!

    i still would love to trade Rip/Maxiel for S.Jack!!

  • http://comcast.net/The_Defiant SagJism

    @95 Thats what i dont lik eabout this site, thereis so much Hate for KB and LBJ that it just does not makes sense. They are the 1and 2 players in the L (I include dwade as well but he does not get the hate spewed at him like KB and LBJ). I dont like LBJ, not the person the player, I think his game is 2 deminisional but he does not have that killer instinct andI dont think he can ever get it. He relies on his physical prowess too much, not that he cant dominate with that but I think he work work on other areas andthat will make him not reach his potential. But I never go off on his person just his game.(LB gets a lot of unnecessary hate almost as much as KB). With KB, people on this site seem to just want to tear the man down for whatever reason, ghate because he was accussed of raping a whore who had 5 other dudes sperm in her panties, hate cuz he possibly ratted on Shaq during a poilice questioning, even though the only time KB might have spoken to poilice was to sign them an autograph, hate because he scores 81 points or 2 times scores 60+ in less than 3 quarters, Hate him cuz he is as close to MJ and mightpass him, Hate him cuz you think he made Shaq leave even though he does not control any finanaces fo rhte Lakers, Hate him because he cant win without a big man, whatever they hate him for it weont makes sense because they are just hating no matter what, but also hate because we love him for those same reasons because we can understand. LOL. LA2010, KBMVP-MVPF, Oh yeah, hate because in the 2K decade, there is not another player on the same level, TD Shaq, say what you want, they still dont compare to this kat, dude is the 2nd coming of Doc J (MJ was the first), but he is the Kobe Bryant – Best NBA player in the 2K decade.

  • CD23

    A little late, but after the game last nite, Stephen you got a new #1 FAN!. SCREW Kobe!!! We all know he is an all time JERK, he is a man with rings and no FRIENDS. Its like being RICH and still MISERABLE. Stephen is so great, so talented and so awesome. Im so happy your’e in Charlotte now. More access. Thanks for the autograph last nite. You beat the heck out of the Lakers last nite. See @ a game soon. Get us to the PLAYOFFS!!!
    Your new #1.
    OBSCCMD23

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