Kobe Bryant doesn't give 'a bleep' about where LeBron will play

[The Regime]

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant, in a private moment at Staples Center yesterday, didn't care to hear the name LeBron James, who is stealing attention from the NBA Finals because of his impending summer free-agency drama. Bryant is consumed with one item -- a fifth championship -- not the soap opera surrounding King James, who wears a crown but not a ring.

 

Bryant is three wins away after a flawless 30-point, seven-rebound, six-assist outing in Game 1 on Thursday lifted the Lakers to a 102-89 win over the Celtics and a 1-0 lead over the Celtics

 

"You're asking me if LeBron is going to New York?" Bryant told The Post. "I'm trying to tell you in a polite way, I don't give a [bleep]. "As a fan, it's a big deal," Kobe added. "You're talking about LeBron and Dwyane Wade, it's two huge names changing cities. It alters things drastically in the NBA. But I really don't care about it."

 

Byron Scott, now an ESPN broadcaster, was standing with Bryant and cracked up.

 

"Why are people talking about LeBron anyway?" Scott said. "Let me tell you something. From me just knowing Kobe, he doesn't give a [bleep] what everyone is talking about anyway."

 

"I couldn't have said it better," Bryant piped in.

 

Indeed, it is a strange dynamic at these Finals. Bryant is approaching a fifth championship -- one less than Michael Jordan. He is playing in his seventh Finals -- one more than Jordan. Yet James is getting more attention even a month after his Cavaliers played their last game of the season.

 

Last night, CNN showed James' hourlong, much-hyped interview. During the Finals telecast of Game 1, ABC promoted a "Nightline" interview with James to be shown after the game -- even though the segment was taped on April 5 and already was aired in May.

 

During his formal interview session yesterday, Bryant said of the King James' cloud over the Finals: "I don't care about attention. It doesn't mean anything to me."

 

Fact is, Bryant, despite a sore knee drained in April, despite a healing broken finger, is playing at the highest level he's ever played. Historically speaking, Bryant is nearing Jordan's plane of greatness. James is nowhere in that discussion, even if he has two MVPs to Bryant's one.

 

Somehow, Bryant, at 31, is better than Bryant of his 20's.

 

"I think he's a better and a more well-rounded total basketball player," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said at a charity event in which a community center blocks from the arena was dedicated by NBA Cares. "And that includes leadership, teammate skills, things you get better at as you mature. Five, six years ago, he was off the charts athletically. Today he's still incredibly athletic but not as athletic as 26. When you look at the total package, yes, he's better now."

 

Jerry Colangelo, Team USA's CEO, told The Post Friday he has been informed Bryant likely will have right knee surgery after the season, which is why he won't play in the World Championships. According to a Lakers source, Bryant may undergo arthroscopic knee surgery because of wear and tear.

 

Bryant's broken finger has healed, but a Lakers source said the finger is puffed up.

 

Asked about his condition yesterday, Bryant said, "You just try to get healthy as you can for every game and you go out there and just do your best. You just forget about the injuries and put your hardhat on and go to work."

 

Kupchak said he is amazed Bryant played the whole season.

 

"If you talk to him now, he'll say he's feeling pretty good," Kupchak said. "He had a rebirth of energy after the knee was drained. But over the course of an 82-game season, we advised him in so many different ways it was time to take some time off, but he didn't want to hear anything about it."

 

Bryant has put on a surly persona for the media, with mostly clipped answers. His Finals face is on. The title drought from 2003 to 2008 seems to have him more determined.

 

"Just comes from understanding opportunities not coming along very often and making sure you focus in and take full advantage of it," Bryant said. "Early in my career, it's like we'd pop up, win three straight [titles] and after that was a drought.

 

"I want to make sure we don't leave any stones unturned."

 

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/serving_of_kobe_beef_ML3r3YyS0q3pmQlatrYs8H

[Need4Sheed]

This guy is the friggin man.

 

He is just in tuned to slaying opponents on the hardwood as well as white chicks on road trips. BEAST.

[Lkr]

This guy is the friggin man.

 

He is just in tuned to slaying opponents on the hardwood as well as white chicks on road trips. BEAST.

[Dr. Feelgood]

First of all, Lkr, your AV is hilarious.

 

Second of all, this is what I've kinda been thinking too. Who cares where he goes. The media is constantly talking about it that it's now annoying as crap.