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Jeremy Lin Backs Kobe Bryant After ESPN Allegations

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Jeremy Lin

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ESPN has piled on Kobe Bryant over the last week. Not only did they name him the 40th best player in the NBA, an article from ESPN the Magazine basically blamed him for most of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ recent struggles as a franchise.

While Kobe is clearly not the best teammate in NBA history, it’s probably a little unfair to pile on a guy who’s helped to bring five championships to L.A. Does Bryant has his shortcomings as a leader and teammate? Obviously. But the Lakers’ problems are much more complicated than Kobe having a bad attitude.

One Laker who doesn’t see things the way ESPN’s Henry Abbott does, is Jeremy Lin. The popular PG had this to say in a follow up article from the four-letter network:

“I’ve said it from the very beginning: What I’ve seen, my personal experience with him, which is the only thing I can speak on, it’s been great. From Day 1, from the minute I was traded until now, it’s just been constantly him trying to be a leader, being a good leader, a communicator, teaching me, teaching me, teaching me and doing it in a mentorship-type way…That’s my experience. So I can’t speak for anybody else, but it’s been great for me.”

No matter what side of the fence you’re on, most people should be able to agree that Kobe is a more valuable teammate today than he ever has been. Not saying that he’s any less intense or brutally honest — but at 36-years old and with a plethora of hoops knowledge between his ears, there’s more to be learned from him than ever.

Plus, whether his teammates like what he has to say or not, the end goal is very clear. Kobe just wants to win. On some level, everyone should respect that.

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