Ian Mahinmi labels Kobe Bryant as the most arrogant player in the league – NBA Update
Ian Mahinmi, the reserve centre of the Dallas Mavericks believes that Kobe Bryant is the most arrogant player in the NBA today. In a recent interview, Mahinmi called Kobe “super arrogant”.
Los Angeles Lakers super star Kobe Bryant has not had a good time since the regular season ended. Kobe and the Lakers struggled against the Chris Paul led New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the playoffs, but eventually progressed to the second round. However that turned out to be their last victory as the Dallas Mavericks swept the Lakers and Kobe in their second round playoff matchup.
Ian Mahinmi was on that Dallas side which eventually went on to win the NBA World Championship. Dallas beat Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western conference Finals and matched up against the star studded Miami Heat in the Finals.
Since LeBron James has become public enemy number one after the Finals and everyone is lining up to take a shot at him, Mahinmi was asked in an interview if LeBron was the most arrogant player in the league. Mahinmi faced up against both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in the post season and gave the unwanted tag of most arrogant to the former, sparing LeBron in the process,
“Kobe is super arrogant but everybody loves him,” Mahinmi said. “To me, Kobe is more arrogant (than LeBron James).”
Mahinmi’s comments come as another kick to Kobe Bryant who has suffered since the season ended. After crashing out of the playoffs the star was the target of a veiled attack by his teammate Andrew Bynum who said he needed to be a bigger part of the offence. After that Kobe Bryant saw his wish for the replacement of Phil Jackson snubbed by the Los Angeles Lakers management. Kobe Bryant had publicly declared his support for former assistant coach Brian Shaw, who also played for the Lakers, for the slot left open by Jackson’s retirement. However the management instead went with former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. Brian Shaw has since left the Lakers to join the Indiana Pacers and Kobe Bryant has gone completely silent.
In the wider context however, Mahinmi might even be correct to label Kobe Bryant as the most arrogant superstar in the NBA. LeBron James has shown some petulant behaviour over the last year, but Bryant has a history of brashness and undermining fellow players that goes back to when he first stepped foot in an NBA court.
Bryant most notably had a publicised spat with former teammate Shaquille O’Neal that ran for many years and the principle sticking point in it was the ego of both players.
He had a feud with Phil Jackson and is one man, who not many players around the league associate themselves with.
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