Kobe Bryant’s PR Stunt Shows He’s Psychological Master
Kobe Bryant went off on his teammates and management at Los Angeles Lakers practice, with the cameras rolling
The Los Angeles Lakers are coming apart at the seams, and at 6-16, Kobe Bryant has had enough. He went on a tirade during and after Lakers practice, that featured him going at pretty much everyone from Jeremy Lin to Nick Young to Carlos Boozer. He called his team “soft as Charmin” and he barked at Lin as if he was a complete stranger. There’s no question that it was a calculated stunt as opposed to Kobe simply having a bad day, showing that Bryant learned a bit about psychology from former coach Phil Jackson.
Watch the highlights of practice, courtesy of Lakers Nation.
REEKING OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS STUNT
Those readers who have also covered the NBA and have been in lockerrooms will notice one strange thing — the fact that outside media was even allowed into practice. It’s not commonplace in the NBA and it’s for a few reasons. First, even though scouting is as advanced as ever, the teams don’t want their strategy getting out. Second, there are skirmishes, vulgar words and actions unbecoming a positive image that happen during practice.
These mother**** aren’t doing **** for me — Kobe to Kupchak after practice
There’s a reason that players are one way while getting treatment or before media arrives and another once the wave of reporters show up. Yet, Kobe chose this day — the day that ALL of the media was there — to rip into everyone? Yeah, totally random Kobe.
That’s why this move by Kobe Bryant reeks of a public relations stunt. He wanted to embarrass his team publicly. He wanted to show the world that he’s doing more than just chasing numbers. He’s trying to show that he’s still got the same fire he’s always had. The problem is, this isn’t the kind of team that is struggling because they’re not trying.
Check out this Vine with some choice words aimed at GM Mitch Kupchak:
RIGHT MESSAGE, DELIVERED INCORRECTLY
Kobe was sending the right message. The Lakers are soft defensively, but it’s not so much a lack of desire as it is a lack of talent. Master motivators can get more out of people than their skill level would indicate, which is what Kobe was going for here. But, Kobe was simply being Kobe — a stone-cold killer who doesn’t understand how to deal with different types of egos.
More from Hoops Habit
- The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
Do you think Jeremy Lin is the kind of player who will respond well to being challenged (and essentially punked) by Kobe? How about Carlos Boozer, the guy who loves to celebrate when he’s down 20 points after making buckets? Or possibly Nick Young, the guy who’s about as far removed from Kobe’s personality as humanly possible?
Kobe could’ve chosen Italian as the language he delivered this message in, because there’s no chance this team is going to let that sink in. If anything, shoving people who need to be nudged is a great way to make an already toxic situation go completely nuclear. Would it surprise anyone to see this stunt fall flat, further dividing a lockerroom and a team that hasn’t been on the same page since Day 1?
At the end of the day, Kobe is a frustrated superstar on a team that isn’t jelling. I don’t believe they aren’t working hard, as Kobe’s message would indicate — I just think they aren’t talented enough to compete. Although I hated the way Kobe did it, at least he’s trying to do something.