He (Pau) gets upset when I call him ‘soft.’ - Kobe

[barefacedmonk]

Bryant also addressed two big issues with key teammates: friction with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum’s push for a larger role in the team’s offense.

“It’s just not true,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports. “I don’t know who, where it’s from or who said this or what. It’s just not true; it’s just not true. Pau and I, we know that. It sucks for him to have that kind of stuff going on with his family or whatever he has going on. It couldn’t be further from the truth. The only beef that we have is when I call him ‘soft’ – he gets upset when I call him ‘soft.’ That’s it.”

In regard to the offensive demands that Bynum made Tuesday with local media, Bryant stated that the ball should continue to go through him first, Gasol second.

“Ultimately, [Bynum will] have to fall in line because I’m gonna shoot the ball – we all know that,” Bryant said. “Pau is going to get his touches; he’s No. 2. And then [Andrew] will have to fall in line.”

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I hope the friction in that locker room continues to grow...I feel bad for their next coach to be....good luck dealing with that giant ego. 

[StartOrien]

Dear Kobe Bryant Apologists,

This is why we hate your favorite player

“Ultimately, [Bynum will] have to fall in line because I’m gonna shoot the ball – we all know that,”

Sincerely,

Everybody Else

[mgent]

"...I'm gonna shoot isolation turn-around fade-aways, out of the rhythm of the offense, from 20ft and with a defender all over me, even when one or two of my teammates have been hot that game - we all know that"

[Kiorrik]

I can imagine him going all "I'M NOT SOFT! STOP CALLING ME SOFT!! I'M NOT SOFT!!!" in an all leave-Britney-alone type of way.

[CelticSooner]

Seems like most star players lose their big egos as they get older. You can't really say that about Kobe. Kobe isn't a #1 option anymore whether he wants to admit it or not.

[wiley]

after you've won two championships with a guy you should stop calling him soft.  Especially when you robbed him of the MVP award in one of them....

[Prof. Clutch]

Ahhh, this is fun.  Can we keep watching this movie forever please? 

[GreenFaith1819]

lol.....and this is why Kobe and LA may end up not making it back to the Finals, again.

Note to Kobe: Bynum and Gasol are probably the best 1-2 punch of Bigs in the NBA right now, especially when Gasol is plugged in and playing well.

He'd better ensure that BOTH are happy next season.

If LA keeps both of them next year, you'd better please both of these two. As great a player as Kobe is, he'd better start taking a reduced role...not quite as many shots?

You're getting older, Kobe.

I can't stand Drew, but he is probably the 2nd or 3rd best Center in the game right now. You'd better feed him the rock.

[mgent]

Seems like most star players lose their big egos as they get older. You can't really say that about Kobe. Kobe isn't a #1 option anymore whether he wants to admit it or not.

He doesn't think he's a #1 option, he think he's the only option.

[JohnBagleyValueMeal]

Thing is, Bynum *should* be the third option and should consider himself lucky to be in the position that he's in.

I hate Kobe as much as anyone, and I don't have much regard for him as a person, but I think he should be higher in the offensive pecking order than a one-note cheap shot artist like Bynum.