Now Kobe Wants To Stay

Hours after saying that he had come to a point where he wanted to part ways with the team, and there was nothing that could be done to salvage the relationship Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant retracted his statements. Bryant asked to be traded from the team that he won three championships with, on Wednesday, a day after saying that the front office situation is “a mess.”

Bryant during an interview on ESPN Radio said that the reason relationship had soured on his end, was due to a lack of trust. Bryant says that he and Lakers coach Phil Jackson were told totally different scenarios, about the teams long term plans. Bryant said he believes that ownership, and upper management misled him. But just hours later he went on a Los Angeles radio station saying he had had a heart to heart conversation with Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

Bryant said that the conversation he had with Jackson was to figure a way to overcome the obstacles that the guard perceived were team issues. He went on to say he rescinded his request for a trade and that he loves Los Angeles. Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss had earlier issued a statement saying that the club had heard the media reports, but had had no contact with Bryant or his represenatives. He went on to say that the team had made it clear of their intentions to build the franchise around Bryant, and would have no further comment until speaking with the player.