Kobe Bryant is currently in Las Vegas prepping for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, but he is still up-to-date with the NBA. During the off-season trade rumors are constantly being created and news surfaces nearly every hour. Although Bryant’s main focus is trying to win gold, he is still following rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have already acquired Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns and people are expecting him to fit well with the team. However, Andrew Bynum may not be part of the Nash era in Los Angeles. Bynum has been the center of speculation for quite sometime, and he could be dealt for Dwight Howard.
Bryant was asked if Bynum could ignore the trade talks and get ready to play with Nash, and the five-time champion showed full faith that his center would be prepared.
“Yea, yea. He’s got kind of this f— it attitude, you know what I mean,” Kobe said. “Which is great, it’s one of the things that makes him a great player. It won’t bother him at all…. Andrew is a big boy, he can handle it better than most.”
Being involved in trade talks can be tough for players to handle, especially if they have never been dealt before. However, Bynum has been a complete professional during this tough time and has been ignoring the chatter around him.
Kobe Bryant is always focused on the goal at hand, and he never lets outside talk distract him. Bynum is doing the same thing right now and he is not worried about what the front-office is discussing.
Some players may hold a grudge against teams for bringing their names into trade talks, but it seems as though Bynum will do no such thing. Lamar Odom was upset that the Lakers were shopping him last summer, and as a result the Lakers had to give him up. Bynum has been talked about for several years now, but he continues to put that aside and do whatever it takes to help the Lakers.
Odom may have ruined his future with the Lakers with his actions, but there is a good chance Bynum will be motivated to attend training camp with a goal to win a championship.
