Kobe Bryant asserted that he wouldn’t play for any team but the Lakers, disputing comments made by Phil Jackson.
“I’ve said it so many times. I’m here, I’m a Laker for life,” Bryant told reporters on Friday night, according to ESPN. “I’m not playing anywhere else, no matter what. It’s just not going to happen. I bleed purple and gold, and that’s just how it’s going to be.”
Bryant made the comments in response to a question about Jackson, who said in September that he believes Bryant may play another season with another NBA team. Kobe is pretty much ruling that out here.
Bryant even understood Jackson leading the media on.
“That’s Phil baiting you like he always does,” Bryant said to reporters. “He’s a master at it.”
Bryant’s season is looking increasingly like a farewell tour, so it seems Jackson was either messing with reporters or simply wrong.
