Kobe Bryant is owed $25 million this year, and is playing on a two-year, $48.5 million contract that executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss defends despite Bryant having played 41 games in the last two seasons. That’s right, despite missing 123 of a possible 164 games, Buss believes Bryant’s contract is a fair one.
"You give Kobe Bryant $50 million for two years. Are you kidding me? What did he bring us? In this day and age, what did he bring us, for 20 years? And if that isn’t what you’re supposed to do, then I have no idea what life is all about,” Buss said.
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While most derisively refer to Bryant’s deal as a “lifetime achievement” contract, Buss plainly states that Bryant’s value to the Lakers financially off the court is worth the big bucks. He also compared him to Magic Johnson, and said his Hall of Fame-caliber body of work on the court in the past has value too.
"The organization absolutely loves him. You know why? Because he has made a living, as we (have) with the Lakers for the last 20 years, because of this man. Magic Johnson carried us (to) this part (of their history) ... and Kobe Bryant has carried us for 20 years.”
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These comments were part of a broader interview in USA Today in which Buss gave himself a lot of credit for the Lakers’ success over the last two decades. Those comments, along with the ones about Bryant’s current deal being anything other than an abject failure, got under the skin of First Take host Stephen A. Smith.
“I wanted to throw up,” Smith said. “Let me say this to you Jim Buss and I’m not wavering one single bit. You are an atrocity. The worst thing the Lakers could have done is to have you in control.”
Safe to say Stephen A. is not a fan of Buss’ work. With Kobe’s deal preventing supporting stars from joining the team, leaving an aging Bryant to drag young players like Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell to the playoffs, Smith might have a point.
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