Everyone knows how serious Kobe Bryant is about his team, the Los Angeles Lakers. It also seems sometimes that out of all that passion comes a destructiveness that punishes those trying to succeed without him, although he doesn’t necessarily mean for the results to happen. Using twitter to interact with the fans during games, something he never managed to do before his injuries, might not be all that positive as some might think.
Mike D’Antoni certainly didn’t like it. It wasn’t like Bryant was writing “Go Lakers” or something of the sorts. It was as if he was criticizing the players, the coaching and the game plan as they tumbled to a 91-79 loss against the San Antonio Spurs. Not exactly throwing people under the bus, but it wasn’t about being supportive. That’s not Bryant, it never was. It’s win or go home, and even when he’s not playing, it’s the same kind of attitude.
D’Antoni was informed by “kind” reported about the tweeting that was going on. His answer told everything you needed to know about not really liking Bryant spending time on twitter to live-blog the game.
He’s a fan right now. He’s a fan and you guys (the media) put a little more importance on that kind of fan, but he’s a fan. He gets excited and he wants to be a part of it, so that’s good.
Bryant tweeted this after the game – I see my tweeting during the game is being talked about as much as the game itself. Not my intention , just bored as I guess. I’m not sure who he’s trying to fool, but I refuse to believe one of the more influential basketball players if not the most since Michael Jordan doesn’t know his stature in social media and what kind of noise he was going to make through his “innocent” tweets that include “Post, post post” and “Pau, get ur ass on the block and don’t move till you get it”.
Funny who those things didn’t happen when he was in the game, playing. Gasol might have waited 24 seconds for five consecutive possessions and not get that ball. But Bryant is extremely popular on Facebook and twitter, posting “cool” and “combative” status updates. He has become more important than the Lakers, and everyone on board. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and the only ones suffering for his thought-sharing are his coach and teammates.