NBA BASKETBALL FAN EDITORIAL
Why Kobe Bryant Got Booed at the All-Star Game
Feb 15, 2002

By H. Lee

First of all, Kobe Bryant is an exceptional basketball player . There is no doubt about that. In fact, he’s probably the closest to you know who in terms of being a complete player and competitor. But that has nothing to do with him being booed. Kobe Bryant got booed for one simple reason - he is not likeable.

Obviously, some of the reasons for the booing come from the way he distanced himself from Philadelphia and from the Lakers beating them in last year’s finals. But, this is an All-Star game and people don’t necessarily boo athletes at games that don’t mean anything. Plus, many of the fans at the game weren’t even from Philly. So, one must probe a little deeper.

It surprises me that so many basketball journalists don’t understand that athletes are liked not necessarily for their skills but also for their persona. I’ve read articles from Vecsey to Alridge to Patrick critiquing the fans and being dumbfounded as to why Kobe got ‘mistreated’. Maybe it’s because sportswriters are somewhat distanced from the normal fan due to the fact they are constantly mingling with the players or maybe they’re afraid to offend them. But that wouldn’t explain Vecsey since he makes a living making fun of ballplayers. A great simple letter was written after the game to Slamonline from a fan who summarized it perfectly in one great sentence. He wrote about Kobe, “…your confidence is not the problem. It’s the whole arrogance vibe that sucks.”

What do we know about Kobe and what qualities move the masses to revere individuals in any field? From the interviews, articles and commercials we are subjected to, Kobe comes off as smug and petulant, not to mention boastful. These are not traits that are admired. Hard work, humbleness, and genuine sincerity are what people appreciate. A few years ago, I happened to find Sports Illustrated’s first story on Jordan when he was a rookie. I was astonished to read Jordan saying, “I hope to make at least one all-star game before my career is over.” It was such a ridiculously humble statement when people were already thinking he was the single most talented player in the game. Later that year, Bird said Jordan was the best player he ever played against. Contrast this with Kobe. When Kobe first entered the league, he said, “I’m going to win ten championships and I want to be the best ever to play.” The reaction from players was, “Hold your horses buddy, but after your eighth or ninth scoring title without Shaq and fifth ring without Shaq should you be talking.”

And with Shaq lies another problem. Kobe will never get the respect he wants as a player unless he plays without Shaq. It’s his fault really for jumping out of High School and wanting to be the main man. It’s not going to happen to a High School kid, especially when playing behind one of the three most dominant players to ever play the game. Kobe comes off as the little kid who makes fun of you and runs away because his big brother will beat you up if you say anything. In all the games Kobe’s played without Shaq, his field goal attempts have gone up as expected but his scoring has gone down. His field goal percentage is also significantly lower. But most importantly, the Lakers are merely a .500 team without Shaq. The reason Kobe can be Kobe is because of Shaq and that impression will never change until Kobe inherits his own team. Remember the Lakers’ first championship with Shaq? Shaq was bawling because he endured seven hard years trying to win it. Meanwhile, Kobe goes along for the ride and he’s on TV pretending to cry like he suffered so long trying to win it. There were no tears because there was no suffering. It was Shaq’s moment. Kobe was just a role player.

And yet we kept hearing stories about how Kobe wanted to take over the team. He hadn’t earned anything and he wanted the same respect as a veteran superstar. He kept making commercials narrating words of wisdom but who wants to listen to a 22-year old guy who was obviously immature? He made a rap album with the psychotically horrendous title song, “Kobe I Love You” which destroyed any sense of style and self-credibility and made the entire music world and everyone in general laugh so hard he chose not to release the album. He got overshadowed by Carter as a showman but instead of entering the dunk contest, he put out more silly “look how great I am” Adidas commercials with computer-enhanced dunks. These things do not earn the respect of people.

Kobe Bryant keeps wanting to show how great he is which is fine but you don’t pull your own chain. You let others do it for you. Then you actually start to play down how great you are. I know a relative of an NBA player who is very friendly and never says anything negative about anybody - except Kobe Bryant. Of all the players he’s met, he said Kobe Bryant was the only one who had an arrogance that was so unappreciative of all that was around him. It made him sick to his stomach. The fans at Philly must have had a similar sickness too.

Maybe in five to seven years when Kobe’s personality gains a little bit of wit, humor or modesty will he have the charismatic appeal that people want to see. So far, he’s been a bald-headed, tongue-wagging kid claiming not to be copying Jordan to a kid trying to be more ‘ghetto’ by rapping when he was born into an affluent family. His identity crisis points to a glaring insecurity. But the saddest part is, he’s really a product of this insane society we live in that expects a 20 year-old to know anything. It doesn’t matter how smart you are or how many great coaches you have. You have to exerience the peaks and pitfalls of life before you can become wise. It’s probably killing Kobe that he got booed instead of cheered since he wants to be the best and have the respect the best are showered with. The All-Star game experience may be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.