Kobe Bryant explained what his monster dunk on Sunday meant and why he’s been able to make such moves, from Dave McMenamin of ESPN New York: “Yes, Bryant’s driving layup with 9 seconds left over the outstretched arms of the 6-foot-9 Josh Smith proved to be the game winner. However, it was Bryant’s turn-back-the-clock dunk two minutes earlier — when he blew by Smith and took off past the charge circle — that might well have decided the contest. “It’s more of a message to my team here to try to kind of have that will, that hunger to push through it by any means necessary.”… “I was in my coffin a few years ago,” Bryant said, gladly reminding the media that plenty of the pundits and scribes out there have soiled hands from prematurely throwing dirt on his grave. “Vino is out of the barrel.”… “I can get to the rim a lot more because the floor is more spread,” Bryant explained this week. “So I can attack the basket. And my passing and teammates knocking down shots opens the floor more for me, because I can get all the way to the rim.”
Metta World Peace did not appreciate George Karl calling him out for “premeditated play”, and said the league has to take action on a lot of things due to new-age media, from McMenamin: “”George Karl knows, come on,” World Peace said after the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice Saturday. “He’s been in this NBA longer than me. Come on, he knows the era of basketball.”… “As I get older, I’m learning how to just play hard,” World Peace said. “It’s not like I brought this aggression to the league. I didn’t invent this. This is what we watched, this is what we saw. The Bill Laimbeers and the [Dennis] Rodmans, they play hard and they wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. They played hard. They played with passion. We grew up wanting to play with passion. So, when the guys say we’re dirty, we’re just playing hard. We’re not playing dirty… “It gets publicized,” World Peace said. “This media era is amazing. Twitter, Facebook, ESPN, news outlets everywhere. Then [the NBA has] got to do something because public perception is everything. It’s everything. So they got to do something. They just can’t let it act like they’re not paying attention to it, especially when it’s my reputation.”
Dwight Howard thinks the reason he gets injured is because of how players foul him, according to Mike Bresnahan of Los Angeles Times: “”I don’t want a backlash of people thinking I’m trying to cry about stuff, but most of the injuries, or all of the injuries, that I’ve had the past couple of years have come from fouls,” he said in an interview Sunday. “It started with my eyes, and people slapping me in the face. Then I ended up hurting my back because people just jump on my back as I’m coming up [to shoot]. And this season my shoulder. Hopefully it stops here. “I’m not going to stop playing and I’m going to fight through it, but [World Peace] is right. A lot of stuff happens and it just gets overlooked because of my size or whatever.”
LeBron James is thinking about Magic Johnson’s $1 million offer, from ESPN: “LeBron James apparently is still mulling Magic Johnson’s $1 million offer to finally participate in the NBA’s dunk contest. James told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that, although he hasn’t decided on a response to Johnson’s offer, he frequently considers entering the dunk contest. “I don’t have a response yet,” James told Salters prior to the Miami Heat’s game against the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon. James had never taken part in the dunk contest in his 10-year career despite consistently throwing down trophy-worthy slams in warm-ups and games. The three-time league MVP told Salters, however, that he has considered participating. “I think about it every year,” James said. Johnson addressed the issue Friday on ESPN’s “Kia NBA Countdown,” claiming that he would pay $1 million to James — or anyone who can beat him in the dunk contest.”… “Tell him I’ll get back to him,” James told Salters.”
Kenyon Martin will get another 10 days to prove his worth to the Knicks, according to Ian Begley of ESPN New York: “The Knicks will sign veteran Kenyon Martin to a second 10-day contract, coach Mike Woodson said on Sunday. Martin, who was signed to provide depth to the Knicks’ depleted front line, received a DNP on Friday against the Wizards and has played just five minutes in the first seven days of his 10-day contract. But general manager Glen Grunwald said that he hopes Martin will be with the Knicks for the remainder of the season. That could change if Martin gets hurt or if the Knicks need to use his roster spot for other purposes… With Rasheed Wallace out with a fractured left foot and Martin working his way into shape, the Knicks could use Camby’s inside presence off the bench.
- Aaron Brooks will now join the Houston Rockets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Houston has reached agreement on a deal with Aaron Brooks, source tells Y! Sports.
@WojYahooNBA
Adrian Wojnarowski
Delonte West has changed his mind about not playing for a D-League team, according to Wojnarowski: “With NBA teams uneasy about taking a risk on his past behavioral issues, free-agent guard Delonte West intends to report to the Texas Legends of the Development League on Monday, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. West, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, had planned to join the Legends earlier in February, but never arrived. Since coming to realize the D-League is likely his only avenue back into the NBA, West has reconsidered, a source said. Texas leaves Sunday for a two-game road trip to Los Angeles and Bakersfield, and West intends to arrive in Texas on Monday and join the team when it returns to Frisco, a Dallas suburb, on Thursday, a source said.”
Health willing, Manu Ginobili wants to play two more seasons, according to Buck Harvey of San Antonio Express News: “Ginobili will be back next season, though he says there are no guarantees. At his age, he says, it’s year to year. “But ask me right now,” he said Sunday, “and I’d like to play two more years for sure.” His fans would prefer 10 years, but at least his timeline fits with others. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, for example, currently have contracts through 2015. Ginobili’s contract ends this summer. And while he’s currently the highest-paid Spur, it’s likely a hometown compromise could be reached with him as it was with Duncan before. He acknowledged Sunday he feels the years. “Little things” that wouldn’t have physically bothered him before now do. Given that, he eats better, and he stretches more, and he says he’s “less crazy” than he was eight years ago.”