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SPORTSCASTER: Merry Christmas
from Los Angeles.
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The forecast high today
is 71 degrees.
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It's a great day
to be outside.
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But for 19,000 very lucky
ticket holders,
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they can't wait to get inside.
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About an hour and a half ago,
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the team bus
for the Miami Heat pulled up,
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and into the building came
Shaquille O'Neal.
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And about ten minutes later,
driving up from his home
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in Orange County came
Kobe Bryant.
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[cheers and applause]
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Kobe and Shaq--
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no last names necessary--
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made beautiful music together
for eight years
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as teammates,
three championships,
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tremendous success.
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But off court,
a lot of discordant notes,
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which of course led
to the departure of O'Neal,
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which led
to the great breakup.
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And thus today,
for the first time ever,
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the two face each other.
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ANNOUNCER:
At center, number 32,
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13th year out of LSU,
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Shaquille O'Neal.
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[cheers and applause]
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Number eight,
from Lower Merion High School,
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Kobe Bryant.
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[cheers and applause]
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The head coach,
Rudy Tomjanovich.
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RAMONA: Kobe and Shaq had
just broken up.
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There's no Phil Jackson
anymore.
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But now Shaq was
on a way better team.
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And Kobe was on this team
with the guys
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that had been traded for Shaq.
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But they weren't expected
to contend for anything,
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whereas Miami was immediately
a championship contender.
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ROB: For Kobe,
there was no agony of defeat.
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It was gonna be a win
for him either way.
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If the Lakers won the game,
it was a win.
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If the Lakers lost
and someone out-dueled him,
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it was a win because he knew
that would be his motivation
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to fuel the next challenge.
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[whistle blows]
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SPORTSCASTER 1:
And Kobe reaches--
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SPORTSCASTER 2:
He already gave it to 'em.
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SPORTSCASTER 1:
He gave them the timeout
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with 9.2 now in the game.
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SPORTSCASTER 2:
That's right.
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- It's coming down
to the last play.
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Timeout's called.
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Kobe's running the huddle.
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We had a new coach,
Rudy Tomjanovich.
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And Kobe says, we're gonna run
the "what the F" play.
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So I called Phil.
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He was in New Zealand.
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And I said,
you won't believe it,
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but, like, Kobe called
the "what the F" play.
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- It's an expression for a play
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that we run at the end
of the game.
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But does Rudy have that play?
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Kobe doesn't trust
what's going on there.
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It's too bad.
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He doesn't have anything
to go to to help him out.
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SPORTSCASTER:
Jumaine Jones to inbound.
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Bryant gets doubled.
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Kobe Bryant.
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[crowd groans, buzzer blares]
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[whistle blows]
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Amazing,
but it didn't go in...
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JEANIE: I went, oh, my gosh,
Kobe misses Phil.
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Like, he liked the way
Phil coached the team.
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ROGER TROUTMAN:
♪ California love ♪
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[2Pac's "California Love"]
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♪ California knows
how to party ♪
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♪ California knows
how to party ♪
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CHICK HEARN: There he is.
His first shot as an owner.
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You think he likes it?
[commentator laughs]
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ROGER:
♪ California ♪
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♪ ♪
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- At this moment,
I can't believe it.
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ROGER:
♪ California ♪
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PERSON:
What's the future?
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Want to replace your father
at the top?
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- Yeah. [laughs]
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ROGER:
♪ In the city ♪
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BUSS: Between my daughters
and my sons,
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there are certainly enough
sports teams to go around.
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♪ ♪
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ROGER:
♪ In the city ♪
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PERSON: Are you
and the rest of the family,
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are you guys all
on the same page?
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♪ ♪
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PERSON: The Lakers caught
in the middle
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of a family power struggle.
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♪ ♪
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BUSS: I think I've really
left them with something.
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LAMAR ODOM: Part of me
always wanted to feel
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what it was like
to be a Laker.
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But, you know,
my manifestation, I guess,
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came true.
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[soft laid-back music]
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I was in the Shaq trade.
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I mean, I was excited
'cause I was like,
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I get to be Scottie Pippen,
you know?
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And, of course, Kobe would
have been Michael Jordan.
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But I was surprised
that Phil left.
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INTERVIEWER:
So who was your coach?
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- Yeah, who was
our first coach?
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Um...
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I think it was Rudy T.
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Yeah.
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LUKE WALTON:
Rudy T is awesome.
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What an amazing man Rudy T is.
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His energy,
like, his passion--
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it was a lot of fun
to be around Rudy T.
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But that year was destined
to fail,
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no matter who took over, right?
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I mean, you're coming in
to fill the shoes
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of Phil Jackson
and Shaq-Kobe dynasty?
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It's just not gonna happen.
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- Where he was
and where Kobe was trying to go
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was just two different
mindsets.
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JEANIE: When my dad
and Jimmy hired Rudy,
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they did so together.
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When Phil was being
hired the first time,
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Jimmy wasn't part
of the process at all.
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So now this was
definitely Jimmy's
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becoming more assertive in
the basketball side of things.
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My dad wanted to empower
Jimmy in that position.
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And he did that for me
when I started in the business
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in team tennis, when he said,
I want you to have the success,
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or I want you to feel
the failure of, you know,
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what you decide,
and so kind of felt that
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that's what he wanted
Jimmy to do.
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KURT RAMBIS: What's important
is that organizations
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hire the right coaches.
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And Rudy Tomjanovich was
a championship coach.
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So there's a lot of rationale
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that would make
that make sense.
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But Jim didn't really
understand the business
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of sports and basketball.
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So I thought the contract
for Rudy was too much money.
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JIM:
That wasn't my decision
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of how much Rudy was paid.
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It was my dad's decision.
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But statistically,
Rudy is fantastic.
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He had won a championship.
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It made sense.
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- Players--we've always felt
that not every player can play
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in New York
or play in Los Angeles
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when you have these exorbitant
expectations on you.
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And you can't
coach there either,
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'cause there's a lot
of pressure that's involved
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and a lot of media scrutiny
in those two cities.
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So you've got to be able
to handle all of that.
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[crowd booing]
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- Halfway through the season,
he just came to me and said,
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Mitch, I can't do it anymore.
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RUDY:
I couldn't shut it off
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when I was away from the arena.
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I can't remember exactly
how I was before.
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- It was bad,
and it was kind of just
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like everyone was in shock.
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No one knew what was going on.
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It was no good.
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[indistinct chatter]
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[cameras clicking]
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SPORTSCASTER:
Phil Jackson is coming back
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to coach
the Los Angeles Lakers.
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PHIL JACKSON:
It wasn't about the money.
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It was about the intrigue
of this situation.
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And it's a tremendous story.
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It's a tremendous opportunity.
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It's a story of reconciliation,
redemption.
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It's a story of reuniting.
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It's a lot of things in this
that make for, you know,
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really a wonderful opportunity
for the team
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and for the Lakers and myself.
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RAMONA: Phil Jackson coming
back to the Lakers
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is one of the most
surprising things
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I've ever seen
in covering the team.
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I just couldn't believe
that Kobe would want him back.
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But that's what losing does.
It humbles you.
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STEPHEN A. SMITH: Here's
my question to you, Kobe.
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How many times
have I asked you,
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"How's things going
with Phil Jackson,"
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you got a smile on your face,
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you say,
"Everything's going well.
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I'm happy the fact
that Phil is back."
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How can you be happy that
that man is back?
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- You know what?
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Life is short, OK?
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And you can't go around
life carrying baggage.
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- Did you ever want him
to apologize--
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the "uncoachable" comment,
and I think him at one point
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wanted you traded
from the Lakers,
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at least that's
what he said in the book.
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[tense music]
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00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:04,567
KOBE:
Nah, I didn't need an--
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00:08:04,567 --> 00:08:05,777
I didn't need an apology
from him.
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00:08:05,777 --> 00:08:06,820
NEWSCASTER: No?
KOBE: You know, just him
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00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:08,113
coming back to the Lakers--
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00:08:08,113 --> 00:08:09,447
NEWSCASTER: Was enough?
KOBE: Was enough.
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MITCH:
Nobody's uncoachable.
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Was he hard to coach?
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00:08:13,660 --> 00:08:16,454
Yeah, he was hard to coach.
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00:08:16,454 --> 00:08:18,748
You know, when you reach
a certain status,
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you begin to flex
a little bit,
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and you voice your opinion.
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And maybe you don't always
agree with the coach.
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Or maybe you say to yourself,
I can do it better.
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LUKE:
Kobe's a very competitive
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00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,140
and "win at all costs"
type of guy.
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00:08:35,140 --> 00:08:38,476
But I think with a year apart,
kind of realized, like, dang,
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it really was--
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00:08:39,561 --> 00:08:41,563
uh, it really was
something special.
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00:08:41,563 --> 00:08:44,065
And thankfully they did,
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00:08:44,065 --> 00:08:48,069
because it allowed Phil
and Kobe to reunite.
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00:08:48,069 --> 00:08:51,614
- Kobe came to understand,
that is the genius of Phil,
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00:08:51,614 --> 00:08:54,159
being able to take controversy,
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00:08:54,159 --> 00:08:55,577
or to take disharmony,
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00:08:55,577 --> 00:08:57,370
or to take a moment of tension
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and have that become glue
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00:08:58,747 --> 00:09:00,915
for a better
and deeper relationship.
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00:09:00,915 --> 00:09:03,084
Kobe knew that, deep down,
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00:09:03,084 --> 00:09:06,755
what mattered most
to Phil was winning rings.
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00:09:06,755 --> 00:09:09,132
And that's the only thing
that mattered to Kobe.
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00:09:09,132 --> 00:09:12,969
So to that extent, they were
always 100% on the same page.
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♪ ♪
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00:09:15,722 --> 00:09:19,851
PHIL: I sat and talked to Kobe
before I took the job.
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Kobe had made a choice
to go it alone.
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00:09:23,563 --> 00:09:25,690
And we had to talk about that.
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00:09:27,317 --> 00:09:30,195
And I said to Kobe, you know,
are you willing to come back
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and be a coachable player?
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00:09:33,740 --> 00:09:35,742
"Yeah."
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00:09:35,742 --> 00:09:37,702
You know that it's gonna
take a while
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00:09:37,702 --> 00:09:38,703
for us to get back and win?
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00:09:38,703 --> 00:09:40,288
"Yeah, I know."
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00:09:40,288 --> 00:09:42,123
- The relationship
that we've always had
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00:09:42,123 --> 00:09:45,085
when it came to the game
was we knew, you know,
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00:09:45,085 --> 00:09:48,797
what we needed to do
to get the job done, period.
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00:09:48,797 --> 00:09:51,549
You know, now that
relationship has gone beyond
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00:09:51,549 --> 00:09:53,843
just, you know,
strategies and schematics
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00:09:53,843 --> 00:09:55,011
of the game of basketball.
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00:09:55,011 --> 00:09:56,429
It's just a deeper respect
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00:09:56,429 --> 00:09:59,015
that goes beyond
our profession.
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00:09:59,015 --> 00:10:01,601
- I had every belief
that the team could rebound.
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00:10:01,601 --> 00:10:05,105
I thought that Kobe's talent
was significant enough
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00:10:05,105 --> 00:10:06,898
for him to be a winner.
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00:10:15,532 --> 00:10:18,660
PERSON: There's been some
suggestion that Jimmy is now
251
00:10:18,660 --> 00:10:21,121
kind of the one who's
your number one advisor.
252
00:10:21,121 --> 00:10:23,039
Is that accurate?
253
00:10:23,039 --> 00:10:24,958
BUSS:
That is accurate.
254
00:10:24,958 --> 00:10:27,919
[soft dramatic music]
255
00:10:27,919 --> 00:10:32,006
PHIL: When I came back to
the job again with the Lakers,
256
00:10:32,006 --> 00:10:36,052
I felt like Jim was more
involved in basketball
257
00:10:36,052 --> 00:10:37,220
than his dad was.
258
00:10:38,638 --> 00:10:41,933
- My dad wanted Jimmy to feel,
259
00:10:41,933 --> 00:10:44,894
you know, this is--
this is your show.
260
00:10:44,894 --> 00:10:48,314
- My dad had confidence
in Jeanie and myself
261
00:10:48,314 --> 00:10:50,150
to keep the ball rolling,
262
00:10:50,150 --> 00:10:51,860
you know,
keep the business moving.
263
00:10:53,695 --> 00:10:57,532
- Jimmy wanted to, uh,
prove himself,
264
00:10:57,532 --> 00:11:00,577
just like anybody wants to
prove themselves in business.
265
00:11:00,577 --> 00:11:04,038
MITCH: Jimmy looked
at the game differently.
266
00:11:04,038 --> 00:11:07,417
He relied on data, analytics
267
00:11:07,417 --> 00:11:09,752
to help him make decisions
about players.
268
00:11:09,752 --> 00:11:12,297
JIM: The way I was brought up,
everything's numbers.
269
00:11:12,297 --> 00:11:14,716
Everything that goes on
270
00:11:14,716 --> 00:11:18,011
in a basketball game
has an effect.
271
00:11:18,011 --> 00:11:20,597
How much does a missed
free throw hurt a team?
272
00:11:20,597 --> 00:11:23,933
What is the impact
of the player?
273
00:11:23,933 --> 00:11:27,687
When I was basically running
the team with my dad and Mitch,
274
00:11:27,687 --> 00:11:31,191
that's where the numbers
really came in.
275
00:11:31,191 --> 00:11:33,860
JOHNNY: But Jimmy was also
the kind of guy
276
00:11:33,860 --> 00:11:36,029
that always thought, you know,
277
00:11:36,029 --> 00:11:37,822
I'm gonna hit that lotto.
278
00:11:37,822 --> 00:11:41,159
I'm gonna go to Vegas
and make $100,000,
279
00:11:41,159 --> 00:11:43,536
it's just a matter
of luck and timing.
280
00:11:43,536 --> 00:11:47,248
[indistinct chatter]
281
00:11:47,248 --> 00:11:50,960
- With the tenth pick
in the 2005 NBA Draft,
282
00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,463
the Los Angeles Lakers select
283
00:11:53,463 --> 00:11:55,340
Andrew Bynum...
[cheers]
284
00:11:55,340 --> 00:11:58,760
From St. Joseph's High School.
285
00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,679
SPORTSCASTER: And rare
to see the Lakers draft
286
00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:03,973
a high school player.
Remember, Charlotte took
287
00:12:03,973 --> 00:12:05,725
Kobe Bryant when it was
the Charlotte Hornets...
288
00:12:05,725 --> 00:12:07,852
JIM: He didn't have
any statistics, you know?
289
00:12:07,852 --> 00:12:11,439
He--it was basically
high school, and that was it.
290
00:12:11,439 --> 00:12:15,401
This was, you know,
the eye test.
291
00:12:15,401 --> 00:12:17,195
♪ ♪
292
00:12:17,195 --> 00:12:20,865
We were at the combines, which
were so much fun to go to.
293
00:12:20,865 --> 00:12:22,825
You see all the new talent,
all the players
294
00:12:22,825 --> 00:12:24,869
you scouted
throughout the year.
295
00:12:24,869 --> 00:12:26,120
SPORTSCASTER 1:
Here's Bynum trailing.
296
00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,163
[whistle blows]
SPORTSCASTER 2: Oh.
297
00:12:27,163 --> 00:12:28,623
SPORTSCASTER 1:
And he's fouled.
298
00:12:28,623 --> 00:12:31,417
JIM: And here's this guy,
Andrew Bynum, 17.
299
00:12:31,417 --> 00:12:33,211
He's a 7-footer.
300
00:12:33,211 --> 00:12:35,463
His moves were so sweet.
301
00:12:35,463 --> 00:12:38,758
Had the Kareem skyhook
already.
302
00:12:38,758 --> 00:12:41,803
I was in love with him
five minutes after the game.
303
00:12:41,803 --> 00:12:43,930
SPORTSCASTER: And Bynum
is there with the big...
304
00:12:43,930 --> 00:12:45,723
JIM:
I went to my dad first.
305
00:12:45,723 --> 00:12:47,392
I said, we need
to get this guy.
306
00:12:47,392 --> 00:12:48,768
You know?
The--
307
00:12:48,768 --> 00:12:51,396
I don't care what he looks like
right now.
308
00:12:51,396 --> 00:12:54,649
He had the talent to be
the best center in the league.
309
00:12:54,649 --> 00:12:56,025
MITCH:
He was 17.
310
00:12:56,025 --> 00:12:57,193
He was just a kid.
311
00:12:57,193 --> 00:12:59,112
We asked Andrew
when he started playing,
312
00:12:59,112 --> 00:13:01,948
and he said he was,
like, 15 or something.
313
00:13:01,948 --> 00:13:03,825
That's very late.
314
00:13:03,825 --> 00:13:05,576
JIM: And he only played,
I think, like,
315
00:13:05,576 --> 00:13:07,161
ten games in high school
or something
316
00:13:07,161 --> 00:13:08,997
because he had
an elbow problem.
317
00:13:08,997 --> 00:13:11,291
- Phil was not a fan.
318
00:13:11,291 --> 00:13:13,251
I mean, he saw
the same things we saw,
319
00:13:13,251 --> 00:13:15,211
you know, great hands and--
320
00:13:15,211 --> 00:13:19,382
but he wanted us to get
a four-year college player,
321
00:13:19,382 --> 00:13:21,092
not a 17-year-old.
322
00:13:22,552 --> 00:13:24,637
- Bynum had not been
as successful in high school
323
00:13:24,637 --> 00:13:27,181
as Kobe was,
but there was the sense,
324
00:13:27,181 --> 00:13:29,100
it's just
an intriguing prospect.
325
00:13:29,100 --> 00:13:31,644
And Jim Buss had not
established himself
326
00:13:31,644 --> 00:13:34,981
in any meaningful way
as an executive yet.
327
00:13:34,981 --> 00:13:38,526
And so it just felt
like he was gonna draft
328
00:13:38,526 --> 00:13:40,361
some high school kid
that he believed in,
329
00:13:40,361 --> 00:13:42,405
and if it worked out,
it was gonna be his guy.
330
00:13:42,405 --> 00:13:45,116
It was gonna be
his claim to fame.
331
00:13:45,116 --> 00:13:48,036
JEANIE: Jimmy made sure that
everybody in the world knew
332
00:13:48,036 --> 00:13:50,538
that Andrew Bynum
was his draft pick.
333
00:13:50,538 --> 00:13:54,333
Jimmy wanted Andrew
to be successful
334
00:13:54,333 --> 00:13:59,088
because it would make
Jimmy's name in basketball.
335
00:14:00,214 --> 00:14:01,799
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR: Andrew
had only played really
336
00:14:01,799 --> 00:14:03,926
one season
of high school basketball.
337
00:14:03,926 --> 00:14:06,137
I knew that it would be
tough on him to come
338
00:14:06,137 --> 00:14:10,892
from no attention
to Laker spotlight.
339
00:14:10,892 --> 00:14:13,186
Wow, that's something
340
00:14:13,186 --> 00:14:17,857
for anybody to really
be worried about.
341
00:14:19,025 --> 00:14:20,359
But he wanted to learn.
342
00:14:20,359 --> 00:14:22,820
And he figured that he could
learn best from me.
343
00:14:22,820 --> 00:14:27,492
So the Lakers gave me
the opportunity to coach him.
344
00:14:27,492 --> 00:14:30,787
I just tried to appeal
to his work ethic
345
00:14:30,787 --> 00:14:35,708
and just see if I could get him
to do a few fundamental things
346
00:14:35,708 --> 00:14:38,377
and get him
to understand the game.
347
00:14:38,377 --> 00:14:40,838
SPORTSCASTER 1:
Now Bynum.
348
00:14:40,838 --> 00:14:42,548
[cheers and applause]
349
00:14:42,548 --> 00:14:44,675
Turned away by Kenyon Martin.
350
00:14:44,675 --> 00:14:47,303
SPORTSCASTER 2: A real
experience for Andrew Bynum--
351
00:14:47,303 --> 00:14:48,763
SPORTSCASTER 1: I was
thinking the same thing.
352
00:14:48,763 --> 00:14:50,848
SPORTSCASTER 2: Matched up
against Kenyon Martin.
353
00:14:50,848 --> 00:14:53,101
KAREEM: The fact was
he didn't understand the game,
354
00:14:53,101 --> 00:14:54,602
how to win,
355
00:14:54,602 --> 00:14:56,395
what that was all about.
356
00:14:56,395 --> 00:14:58,689
And he had to learn teamwork.
357
00:15:00,358 --> 00:15:03,903
JEANIE: Phil saw Andrew
as a 17-year-old
358
00:15:03,903 --> 00:15:06,489
who doesn't know
how to be a professional,
359
00:15:06,489 --> 00:15:09,450
needs to be taught
how to be a professional.
360
00:15:09,450 --> 00:15:11,369
And that takes time.
361
00:15:11,369 --> 00:15:13,412
And you have to earn that.
362
00:15:13,412 --> 00:15:15,581
And Jimmy wanted it faster.
363
00:15:15,581 --> 00:15:17,959
I sided with Phil,
364
00:15:17,959 --> 00:15:22,338
because Phil had been
doing it for so long,
365
00:15:22,338 --> 00:15:25,800
and understanding what he went
through with his body--
366
00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:31,389
two knee replacements, a hip
replacement, a spinal fusion--
367
00:15:31,389 --> 00:15:34,851
all those things
that you can attribute
368
00:15:34,851 --> 00:15:37,395
to playing the game
of basketball.
369
00:15:37,395 --> 00:15:43,067
And what kind of life
would Andrew have as, you know,
370
00:15:43,067 --> 00:15:46,946
somebody over 7 feet tall,
and the wear and tear
371
00:15:46,946 --> 00:15:48,948
that you're putting
on this young body?
372
00:15:48,948 --> 00:15:51,534
That's what I wanted
to see was, like,
373
00:15:51,534 --> 00:15:53,953
the slow and steady raising
374
00:15:53,953 --> 00:15:57,331
of a professional
basketball player.
375
00:15:57,331 --> 00:15:59,834
And you have to develop them
the right way,
376
00:15:59,834 --> 00:16:03,171
because if you don't,
then their careers
377
00:16:03,171 --> 00:16:06,299
don't ever meet
their potential.
378
00:16:06,299 --> 00:16:13,181
♪ ♪
379
00:16:13,181 --> 00:16:15,474
- We actually flunked
Andrew Bynum
380
00:16:15,474 --> 00:16:17,310
on the physical exam.
381
00:16:17,310 --> 00:16:19,729
The kid had a bad skeleton.
382
00:16:20,938 --> 00:16:23,107
BRIAN SHAW: They told us,
he's gonna get bigger.
383
00:16:23,107 --> 00:16:26,110
And every time he lands,
the load,
384
00:16:26,110 --> 00:16:29,238
because of the way his feet
are and his knees are,
385
00:16:29,238 --> 00:16:31,949
it's going to limit
the amount of time
386
00:16:31,949 --> 00:16:33,910
that he's gonna be able
to play the game--
387
00:16:33,910 --> 00:16:36,204
just physically,
it's gonna happen.
388
00:16:36,204 --> 00:16:37,955
GARY: Even in high school,
he'd already had
389
00:16:37,955 --> 00:16:42,001
several knee surgeries
at 17 years old.
390
00:16:43,544 --> 00:16:45,630
LAMAR: Andrew,
his knees kind of, like,
391
00:16:45,630 --> 00:16:46,839
bent in like that.
392
00:16:46,839 --> 00:16:48,674
That's why when he jumped
and came down,
393
00:16:48,674 --> 00:16:50,343
it was like, oh, shit,
is he gonna be all right?
394
00:16:50,343 --> 00:16:54,972
Because every jump looked like
it'd be his last time landing.
395
00:16:54,972 --> 00:16:58,476
- The ownership was aware of
that before they drafted him.
396
00:16:58,476 --> 00:17:00,519
But Jimmy was really high
on him.
397
00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:03,731
They drafted him anyway.
398
00:17:03,731 --> 00:17:06,359
But down the line,
he had his own team
399
00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,362
of physicians
and physical therapists.
400
00:17:09,362 --> 00:17:14,033
And his own personal team was
allowed in the locker room,
401
00:17:14,033 --> 00:17:16,994
in the weight room,
on the court.
402
00:17:16,994 --> 00:17:21,082
When Phil tried
to address Andrew's team
403
00:17:21,082 --> 00:17:23,501
and say, look,
during our practice times
404
00:17:23,501 --> 00:17:24,835
you can't be
in the locker room,
405
00:17:24,835 --> 00:17:26,921
you can't be
in the weight room,
406
00:17:26,921 --> 00:17:30,508
you can't be on the court,
nothing changed.
407
00:17:30,508 --> 00:17:33,594
The guy was back in there
doing what he was doing.
408
00:17:33,594 --> 00:17:35,805
Jimmy Buss told him,
don't worry about
409
00:17:35,805 --> 00:17:38,432
what Phil is telling you.
410
00:17:38,432 --> 00:17:40,685
I'm the owner of the team.
411
00:17:40,685 --> 00:17:41,852
He's my guy.
412
00:17:41,852 --> 00:17:43,854
And so do what you need to do.
413
00:17:43,854 --> 00:17:47,733
♪ ♪
414
00:17:58,869 --> 00:18:01,038
KOBE: You know, I always
dreamed as a kid that,
415
00:18:01,038 --> 00:18:03,958
you know, it was possible
to score 80 or 90 or 100.
416
00:18:03,958 --> 00:18:05,334
SPORTSCASTER: What do you say
we play a little basketball
417
00:18:05,334 --> 00:18:06,419
here at Staples Center?
418
00:18:06,419 --> 00:18:08,838
The Raptors and the Lakers.
419
00:18:08,838 --> 00:18:10,631
KOBE: You know, like,
sometimes you lay down in bed,
420
00:18:10,631 --> 00:18:12,049
and you visualize things.
421
00:18:12,049 --> 00:18:13,676
That's at least
how I would go to sleep.
422
00:18:13,676 --> 00:18:16,470
I'd lay down, and I'd imagine
playing for the Lakers.
423
00:18:16,470 --> 00:18:18,556
And I would imagine what
the uniforms looked like.
424
00:18:18,556 --> 00:18:21,225
I would imagine where we'd
be playing, and, you know,
425
00:18:21,225 --> 00:18:23,352
the smell of the arena
and all this other stuff.
426
00:18:23,352 --> 00:18:25,521
And I would see myself,
you know, getting hot.
427
00:18:25,521 --> 00:18:26,939
SPORTSCASTER:
Now to Kobe.
428
00:18:26,939 --> 00:18:28,316
Still six and a half
to play in the third.
429
00:18:28,316 --> 00:18:31,068
He pulls up for a 3--yes!
430
00:18:31,068 --> 00:18:33,821
Kobe again!
[cheers and applause]
431
00:18:33,821 --> 00:18:35,197
KOBE:
But in a dream, like,
432
00:18:35,197 --> 00:18:36,490
why would you ever
interrupt that?
433
00:18:36,490 --> 00:18:37,658
Like, you're not gonna
have a dream and be like,
434
00:18:37,658 --> 00:18:39,076
OK, and then
he misses his next six.
435
00:18:39,076 --> 00:18:40,411
Like, it's not gonna happen.
[laughter]
436
00:18:40,411 --> 00:18:42,204
So you just keep dreaming
and dreaming and dreaming.
437
00:18:42,204 --> 00:18:45,708
And before I go to sleep, I'm,
like, at 120 points, you know?
438
00:18:45,708 --> 00:18:49,086
And so when you grow up
downloading that
439
00:18:49,086 --> 00:18:51,088
into your brain over
and over and over,
440
00:18:51,088 --> 00:18:52,632
then that becomes possible.
441
00:18:52,632 --> 00:18:54,592
[soft inspirational music]
442
00:18:54,592 --> 00:18:55,968
SNOOP DOGG: We think
he gonna do something special
443
00:18:55,968 --> 00:18:57,803
every night
because that's how he play.
444
00:18:57,803 --> 00:18:59,639
But to be there
actually seeing it,
445
00:18:59,639 --> 00:19:02,475
see the ball drop in, hearing
the squeaking of the shoes,
446
00:19:02,475 --> 00:19:04,310
the way they really
sticking him hard.
447
00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:06,020
Because sometimes
on TV it don't look
448
00:19:06,020 --> 00:19:07,229
like they playing defense.
449
00:19:07,229 --> 00:19:08,856
You got to really
be there to see
450
00:19:08,856 --> 00:19:12,193
how intense this is and
how he's really getting them
451
00:19:12,193 --> 00:19:14,487
off of him with his moves
and his fakes
452
00:19:14,487 --> 00:19:16,822
and the shot that he's taking
and the degree of difficulty
453
00:19:16,822 --> 00:19:18,449
with this man all in his face,
454
00:19:18,449 --> 00:19:20,159
and how he's still
making the shot.
455
00:19:20,159 --> 00:19:21,911
ANNOUNCER:
Kobe Bryant.
456
00:19:21,911 --> 00:19:23,204
ICE CUBE:
Scored 20 in that quarter.
457
00:19:23,204 --> 00:19:24,538
Oh, he scored 20
in this quarter.
458
00:19:24,538 --> 00:19:25,790
Damn, he scored another 20.
459
00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:29,001
It's like, you know,
you've seen him do it,
460
00:19:29,001 --> 00:19:33,005
but to see him do it
four quarters in a row,
461
00:19:33,005 --> 00:19:36,509
you just sit back and say,
how amazing is this dude?
462
00:19:36,509 --> 00:19:38,094
It's just mind-blowing.
463
00:19:38,094 --> 00:19:40,763
SPORTSCASTER:
And an 81-point game.
464
00:19:40,763 --> 00:19:43,766
[cheers and applause]
465
00:19:46,352 --> 00:19:49,271
LAMAR: All he was doing
was just chasing greatness,
466
00:19:49,271 --> 00:19:51,816
and I was just hoping
that some of that greatness
467
00:19:51,816 --> 00:19:54,527
would just sprinkle off on me.
468
00:19:54,527 --> 00:19:59,198
♪ ♪
469
00:19:59,198 --> 00:20:02,243
[basketballs dribbling,
shoes squeaking]
470
00:20:02,243 --> 00:20:03,244
REPORTER:
Do you think you'll ultimately
471
00:20:03,244 --> 00:20:04,954
be measured by championships?
472
00:20:04,954 --> 00:20:07,998
KOBE: The thing
that I'm afraid of is, uh,
473
00:20:07,998 --> 00:20:09,834
not winning
another championship.
474
00:20:09,834 --> 00:20:11,627
You know, and that's
why I play the game because,
475
00:20:11,627 --> 00:20:13,587
you know,
winning is the ultimate goal.
476
00:20:13,587 --> 00:20:14,588
REPORTER:
But it's a team game,
477
00:20:14,588 --> 00:20:15,965
and you can only do so much.
478
00:20:17,216 --> 00:20:19,051
KURT:
After Shaq left,
479
00:20:19,051 --> 00:20:22,972
it became an opportunity
for Kobe to really show,
480
00:20:22,972 --> 00:20:26,058
who's the main guy in this
winning all the championships?
481
00:20:26,058 --> 00:20:27,643
It wasn't Shaq. It was me.
482
00:20:27,643 --> 00:20:30,104
[soft dramatic music]
483
00:20:30,104 --> 00:20:31,772
STEPHEN: We're talking
about the Los Angeles Lakers.
484
00:20:31,772 --> 00:20:33,983
The Clippers had
a better record than y'all.
485
00:20:33,983 --> 00:20:36,110
You still aching
for a title, Kobe?
486
00:20:36,110 --> 00:20:37,653
Because a lot of people
look at you right now.
487
00:20:37,653 --> 00:20:39,864
You're taking it game to game,
season to season.
488
00:20:39,864 --> 00:20:41,157
I know you've been
talking about that.
489
00:20:41,157 --> 00:20:43,117
People look at Kobe Bryant
and they say, when his--
490
00:20:43,117 --> 00:20:45,995
when is his championship
coming?
491
00:20:45,995 --> 00:20:47,455
RAMONA:
Kobe went beyond
492
00:20:47,455 --> 00:20:49,665
what any of us thought
he could do.
493
00:20:49,665 --> 00:20:51,584
I mean,
he scored 81 points in a game.
494
00:20:51,584 --> 00:20:53,753
And it was like, every night
he was dropping 50 on people.
495
00:20:53,753 --> 00:20:56,046
And he had a belief in himself
496
00:20:56,046 --> 00:20:59,383
that he could just get anybody
to win with him,
497
00:20:59,383 --> 00:21:02,261
that he was good enough
to rise to that level.
498
00:21:02,261 --> 00:21:05,431
- He didn't have
the team around him.
499
00:21:05,431 --> 00:21:08,184
Listen, two pit bulls
are better than one.
500
00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:11,353
He had some puppies with him.
501
00:21:11,353 --> 00:21:13,439
SPORTSCASTER: Miami Heat--
they've done it!
502
00:21:13,439 --> 00:21:15,191
They win their first
championship
503
00:21:15,191 --> 00:21:16,776
in franchise history!
504
00:21:16,776 --> 00:21:19,028
[cheers and applause]
505
00:21:19,028 --> 00:21:22,656
RAMONA: Shaq goes out
and wins a ring without Kobe.
506
00:21:22,656 --> 00:21:24,241
Kobe saw everything.
507
00:21:24,241 --> 00:21:27,328
That lit a fire
under Kobe's ass.
508
00:21:27,328 --> 00:21:31,165
Like, all right, Shaq got
a ring without me first?
509
00:21:31,165 --> 00:21:33,417
I can't let that stand.
510
00:21:33,417 --> 00:21:37,004
But for Kobe, there was not
a championship team around him.
511
00:21:37,004 --> 00:21:39,965
- This is a trip.
512
00:21:39,965 --> 00:21:42,426
Been signing for, like,
ten years, dude.
513
00:21:42,426 --> 00:21:44,678
This is crazy.
514
00:21:44,678 --> 00:21:46,055
- What?
515
00:21:46,055 --> 00:21:49,517
ROB: When Kobe changed
his number from 8 to 24,
516
00:21:49,517 --> 00:21:51,936
I just said, what's the main
driving factor of the change?
517
00:21:51,936 --> 00:21:53,521
And he said, carpe diem--
518
00:21:53,521 --> 00:21:55,940
24 hours in a day.
519
00:21:55,940 --> 00:21:58,859
There's 24 seconds
on the shot clock.
520
00:21:58,859 --> 00:22:00,486
Every second
of your day matters.
521
00:22:00,486 --> 00:22:02,321
And that's what
this number represents.
522
00:22:02,321 --> 00:22:04,156
CHRIS MYERS: Now, we're
talking with number 8
523
00:22:04,156 --> 00:22:05,616
or, uh, number 24.
524
00:22:05,616 --> 00:22:07,660
And I've seen where
that you've talked
525
00:22:07,660 --> 00:22:11,372
about a number change
as a new chapter in your life.
526
00:22:11,372 --> 00:22:13,082
- I'm not an old man.
But, you know,
527
00:22:13,082 --> 00:22:14,708
you start seeing the light
at the end of the tunnel's
528
00:22:14,708 --> 00:22:16,710
much brighter than the one
at the beginning of the tunnel.
529
00:22:16,710 --> 00:22:18,712
So it's really about
appreciating every day
530
00:22:18,712 --> 00:22:21,173
as it comes, you know,
every game, every win,
531
00:22:21,173 --> 00:22:23,175
every loss, every practice.
532
00:22:23,175 --> 00:22:25,344
It's just soaking every day in.
533
00:22:25,344 --> 00:22:28,347
[Nas' "Hate Me Now"]
534
00:22:28,347 --> 00:22:29,473
♪ ♪
535
00:22:29,473 --> 00:22:31,016
NAS:
♪ It's been a long time ♪
536
00:22:31,016 --> 00:22:32,601
♪ ♪
537
00:22:32,601 --> 00:22:33,978
♪ Been a long time coming ♪
538
00:22:33,978 --> 00:22:35,312
[whistle blows]
539
00:22:35,312 --> 00:22:37,231
SPORTSCASTER:
Inside for Kobe Bryant...
540
00:22:37,231 --> 00:22:39,149
NAS: ♪ It's life or death
for me now ♪
541
00:22:39,149 --> 00:22:41,151
[cheers and applause]
542
00:22:41,151 --> 00:22:42,528
SPORTSCASTER 1:
He's got it!
543
00:22:42,528 --> 00:22:44,446
Silences the crowd!
544
00:22:44,446 --> 00:22:46,574
SPORTSCASTER 2:
The Mamba is loose.
545
00:22:46,574 --> 00:22:49,827
Somebody has to put him
back in the cage.
546
00:22:49,827 --> 00:22:51,370
SPORTSCASTER 1: How much
do you have left, Mamba?
547
00:22:51,370 --> 00:22:53,080
SPORTSCASTER 2: At the top
of the clock, Mamba style.
548
00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:54,415
SPORTSCASTER 3:
And there is the Mamba
549
00:22:54,415 --> 00:22:55,833
hitting the patented--
550
00:22:55,833 --> 00:22:57,126
KOBE: There's a difference
between who you are
551
00:22:57,126 --> 00:22:58,544
and what you are.
552
00:22:58,544 --> 00:23:00,546
And what I am when I step
on that court is--
553
00:23:00,546 --> 00:23:03,549
I become that,
you know, I am--
554
00:23:03,549 --> 00:23:05,175
I am that killer snake.
555
00:23:05,175 --> 00:23:07,303
PUFF DADDY:
♪ You can hate me now ♪
556
00:23:07,303 --> 00:23:09,597
NAS: ♪ You don't give a fuck,
I don't give a fuck ♪
557
00:23:09,597 --> 00:23:11,974
KURT: It's OK to be a nice guy
off the court.
558
00:23:11,974 --> 00:23:13,934
We want you to be nice
and do different things.
559
00:23:13,934 --> 00:23:17,021
But on the court,
you got to be a prick.
560
00:23:17,021 --> 00:23:18,647
I mean, you really do,
561
00:23:18,647 --> 00:23:21,233
'cause everybody's trying
to take what you have
562
00:23:21,233 --> 00:23:23,027
away from you--
your opportunities
563
00:23:23,027 --> 00:23:26,071
to win a championship,
your contracts, your money.
564
00:23:26,071 --> 00:23:28,115
You don't get to play
this for 50 years.
565
00:23:28,115 --> 00:23:30,284
You get a very limited time
to play this.
566
00:23:30,284 --> 00:23:33,579
So if you're not
a prick out there
567
00:23:33,579 --> 00:23:35,456
trying to elevate yourself,
568
00:23:35,456 --> 00:23:38,125
elevate your team
to get to the levels
569
00:23:38,125 --> 00:23:40,085
that you want 'em to get at,
570
00:23:40,085 --> 00:23:42,212
you ain't gonna make it.
You're not gonna make it.
571
00:23:42,212 --> 00:23:45,007
And to me,
he was just lethal out there.
572
00:23:45,007 --> 00:23:47,217
He was willing
to rip your heart out
573
00:23:47,217 --> 00:23:49,303
in order to achieve his goals.
574
00:23:50,679 --> 00:23:53,182
That's what I got out
of Mamba Mentality.
575
00:23:53,182 --> 00:23:54,433
NAS: ♪ First rapper to bring
a platinum plaque ♪
576
00:23:54,433 --> 00:23:55,559
♪ Back to the projects ♪
577
00:23:55,559 --> 00:23:56,894
♪ But you still want to hate? ♪
578
00:23:56,894 --> 00:23:58,479
♪ Be my guest, I suggest ♪
579
00:23:58,479 --> 00:24:00,022
PUFF DADDY:
♪ Money is power ♪
580
00:24:00,022 --> 00:24:01,357
ANDY GARCIA: It was impossible
to keep Kobe down.
581
00:24:01,357 --> 00:24:05,986
If you shoot him between
the eyes with a .45 Magnum,
582
00:24:05,986 --> 00:24:08,030
he'd catch the bullet back here
583
00:24:08,030 --> 00:24:09,365
and throw it back at you,
you know.
584
00:24:10,616 --> 00:24:13,410
KOBE: The Mamba Mentality
simply means
585
00:24:13,410 --> 00:24:15,913
trying to be the best version
of yourself.
586
00:24:15,913 --> 00:24:19,249
Every day, you know, you're
trying to become better.
587
00:24:19,249 --> 00:24:20,626
And it's a constant quest.
588
00:24:20,626 --> 00:24:22,044
It's an infinite quest.
589
00:24:22,044 --> 00:24:24,296
♪ ♪
590
00:24:24,296 --> 00:24:26,298
- OK, let's talk
about your game face.
591
00:24:26,298 --> 00:24:28,342
A lot of people talking
about the Kobe Bryant--
592
00:24:28,342 --> 00:24:30,719
we have a picture here,
and you can--
593
00:24:30,719 --> 00:24:32,972
[cheers and applause]
This face--
594
00:24:32,972 --> 00:24:35,891
I got the impression that
you would take that face home
595
00:24:35,891 --> 00:24:37,893
at night and eat ice cream
with that face, you know?
596
00:24:37,893 --> 00:24:40,479
[laughter]
597
00:24:40,479 --> 00:24:42,147
KOBE: When you play,
like, all your emotions
598
00:24:42,147 --> 00:24:44,900
just pour out in that face.
599
00:24:44,900 --> 00:24:46,485
[laughter]
600
00:24:46,485 --> 00:24:47,945
The face has it,
you know what I mean?
601
00:24:47,945 --> 00:24:49,571
CONAN: Good face.
[cheers and applause]
602
00:24:49,571 --> 00:24:50,823
NAS:
♪ Do it now! ♪
603
00:24:50,823 --> 00:24:53,117
♪ Get this shit over with! ♪
604
00:24:55,327 --> 00:24:56,662
- Come on.
605
00:24:56,662 --> 00:24:58,872
Come on, come on.
PERSON: Whoo.
606
00:24:58,872 --> 00:25:01,959
- Not tonight. Not tonight.
607
00:25:01,959 --> 00:25:04,086
Might be game six,
might be game seven.
608
00:25:04,086 --> 00:25:05,295
We'll see.
609
00:25:05,295 --> 00:25:07,840
Not tonight, God damn it.
610
00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:10,259
GARY:
The Lakers told Kobe
611
00:25:10,259 --> 00:25:14,638
that they wanted to win now.
612
00:25:14,638 --> 00:25:18,851
But some of the actions
that they were doing,
613
00:25:18,851 --> 00:25:21,353
specifically Andrew Bynum,
614
00:25:21,353 --> 00:25:26,442
looked more like they were
building for the future
615
00:25:26,442 --> 00:25:30,696
instead of trying to surround
Kobe with the talent
616
00:25:30,696 --> 00:25:34,575
that he needed immediately
to win.
617
00:25:34,575 --> 00:25:36,076
SPORTSCASTER:
So this is a tall task
618
00:25:36,076 --> 00:25:38,328
for this Laker team down 3-1.
619
00:25:38,328 --> 00:25:40,080
But for Kobe, once again,
620
00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,416
he's got to feel out the game,
gather whatever is there,
621
00:25:42,416 --> 00:25:43,709
whatever his team needs.
622
00:25:43,709 --> 00:25:45,794
He's gonna try
and bring that tonight.
623
00:25:45,794 --> 00:25:48,047
DEREK FISHER:
Those kind of lean years,
624
00:25:48,047 --> 00:25:49,965
where it was really
kind of just him,
625
00:25:49,965 --> 00:25:51,842
opened his perspective
a little bit
626
00:25:51,842 --> 00:25:55,471
on how difficult it is to win,
even, you know,
627
00:25:55,471 --> 00:25:57,556
as frustrating as it could be
playing with Shaq,
628
00:25:57,556 --> 00:25:59,016
not having Shaq as a teammate.
629
00:25:59,016 --> 00:26:00,726
[soft dramatic music]
630
00:26:00,726 --> 00:26:02,144
RAMONA:
Kobe was not interested
631
00:26:02,144 --> 00:26:05,564
in leading the league
in scoring or, you know,
632
00:26:05,564 --> 00:26:08,067
putting up 81 all the time.
633
00:26:08,067 --> 00:26:13,030
Kobe, in order to justify
the decision to go it alone,
634
00:26:13,030 --> 00:26:15,199
to be without Shaq,
635
00:26:15,199 --> 00:26:17,993
to prove himself,
he needed to win.
636
00:26:17,993 --> 00:26:19,828
SPORTSCASTER:
And our second round is set
637
00:26:19,828 --> 00:26:22,456
in the Western Conference
Semifinals.
638
00:26:22,456 --> 00:26:25,417
Phoenix has eliminated
Los Angeles
639
00:26:25,417 --> 00:26:28,670
and Phil Jackson four games
to one.
640
00:26:28,670 --> 00:26:30,339
RAMONA: The Lakers weren't
going in the right direction.
641
00:26:30,339 --> 00:26:31,965
They were just middling
and throwing away
642
00:26:31,965 --> 00:26:33,967
the best years of his career.
643
00:26:33,967 --> 00:26:35,594
REPORTER 1:
How do you describe this end
644
00:26:35,594 --> 00:26:37,096
to this kind of season?
645
00:26:37,096 --> 00:26:40,224
- Um, well, you know, it's--
646
00:26:40,224 --> 00:26:42,518
it's always tough losing,
647
00:26:42,518 --> 00:26:45,395
very tough, very frustrating,
extremely frustrating.
648
00:26:45,395 --> 00:26:47,356
REPORTER 2: How do you guys
get this turned around?
649
00:26:47,356 --> 00:26:49,274
And what do you hope
that the management can do
650
00:26:49,274 --> 00:26:50,567
to get it going
in a better direction
651
00:26:50,567 --> 00:26:51,944
than what it is right now?
652
00:26:51,944 --> 00:26:54,446
- Um, do something,
and do it now.
653
00:26:54,446 --> 00:26:56,907
[tense music]
654
00:26:56,907 --> 00:26:58,283
ROB:
There were some conversations
655
00:26:58,283 --> 00:27:00,744
around a willingness
to trade Andrew Bynum.
656
00:27:00,744 --> 00:27:05,082
So for Kobe, it was,
I need to put this out there,
657
00:27:05,082 --> 00:27:08,085
because it's gonna
engage everything Laker
658
00:27:08,085 --> 00:27:10,712
to get this thing back
on the right page.
659
00:27:10,712 --> 00:27:13,340
- There was never a thought
of moving Andrew Bynum,
660
00:27:13,340 --> 00:27:15,092
never even a thought.
661
00:27:15,092 --> 00:27:19,138
But there was
a huge cloud over there
662
00:27:19,138 --> 00:27:23,225
that Kobe wanted to,
you know, accelerate this.
663
00:27:23,225 --> 00:27:24,768
♪ ♪
664
00:27:24,768 --> 00:27:26,603
BRIAN: Maybe it's
a combination of ego
665
00:27:26,603 --> 00:27:29,815
and being stubborn, or just
Jimmy planting his flag
666
00:27:29,815 --> 00:27:33,360
and saying, Andrew's
gonna be my contribution
667
00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:36,238
and my impact that I'm having
668
00:27:36,238 --> 00:27:41,535
on building of the next era
of Laker championship teams.
669
00:27:41,535 --> 00:27:44,997
And so I have to be behind him
and support him
670
00:27:44,997 --> 00:27:49,334
and my decision to take him,
and it has to work.
671
00:27:49,334 --> 00:27:50,669
KOBE: Yeah,
I would like to be traded.
672
00:27:50,669 --> 00:27:52,296
And as tough as it is
to say that,
673
00:27:52,296 --> 00:27:55,674
as tough as it is to come
to that conclusion,
674
00:27:55,674 --> 00:27:59,469
I just don't see that there's
a chance to build that trust.
675
00:27:59,469 --> 00:28:01,680
MITCH: My phone starts
ringing off the hook.
676
00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:03,473
You know, Mitch, I know
you're not gonna trade him.
677
00:28:03,473 --> 00:28:05,726
But just in case, you know,
we have interest.
678
00:28:05,726 --> 00:28:06,768
[chuckles] OK.
679
00:28:06,768 --> 00:28:08,353
You know, it was
quite a firestorm.
680
00:28:08,353 --> 00:28:14,985
♪ ♪
681
00:28:14,985 --> 00:28:17,112
LUKE:
He was not bluffing at all.
682
00:28:17,112 --> 00:28:18,864
I was like, what the--
we're fucking--
683
00:28:18,864 --> 00:28:19,990
we're building something here.
684
00:28:19,990 --> 00:28:21,116
What are we talking about?
685
00:28:21,116 --> 00:28:22,784
And then it turned into,
you know,
686
00:28:22,784 --> 00:28:26,496
naive phone calls between me
and other teammates.
687
00:28:26,496 --> 00:28:28,206
We don't need him anyway.
688
00:28:28,206 --> 00:28:30,375
You know, we'd kind of be,
like, laughing,
689
00:28:30,375 --> 00:28:32,085
like, well,
we kind of do need him,
690
00:28:32,085 --> 00:28:34,463
but if he doesn't want
to be here, fuck him.
691
00:28:34,463 --> 00:28:36,214
- Is he gonna stay in LA?
692
00:28:36,214 --> 00:28:37,799
Are they gonna trade him?
693
00:28:37,799 --> 00:28:39,468
And what do you make
of this whole thing?
694
00:28:39,468 --> 00:28:42,971
- Well, first of all, uh,
it's a mess, basically.
695
00:28:42,971 --> 00:28:45,057
- It concerned me, yeah.
Well, I texted him,
696
00:28:45,057 --> 00:28:47,267
and I'm like, Kobe, what's up,
you know what I mean?
697
00:28:47,267 --> 00:28:49,269
And he's like, look,
there's some things
698
00:28:49,269 --> 00:28:51,939
that aren't sitting right
with me.
699
00:28:51,939 --> 00:28:55,692
BUSS: But, you know, when
it comes right down to it,
700
00:28:55,692 --> 00:28:59,404
uh, if you're offered
something better
701
00:28:59,404 --> 00:29:01,239
than what you have, you--
702
00:29:01,239 --> 00:29:03,033
most people would take it.
703
00:29:03,033 --> 00:29:07,371
But I can't imagine
anybody giving enough
704
00:29:07,371 --> 00:29:09,164
to compensate for Kobe.
705
00:29:11,667 --> 00:29:13,001
MITCH:
We had several meetings.
706
00:29:13,001 --> 00:29:15,462
And we decided,
707
00:29:15,462 --> 00:29:20,008
Kobe, if you want us
to explore a trade,
708
00:29:20,008 --> 00:29:21,218
we'll do it.
709
00:29:23,303 --> 00:29:24,846
And just so you know,
710
00:29:24,846 --> 00:29:27,641
we feel you are the best
player in the world.
711
00:29:27,641 --> 00:29:29,893
Any team we talk to,
712
00:29:29,893 --> 00:29:31,812
we're gonna want
their best player.
713
00:29:31,812 --> 00:29:34,106
But we reached out
to all the teams.
714
00:29:34,106 --> 00:29:36,441
[upbeat jazzy music]
715
00:29:36,441 --> 00:29:37,859
MARK CUBAN:
Sometimes, you know,
716
00:29:37,859 --> 00:29:40,195
teams will just hypothetically
throw something out.
717
00:29:40,195 --> 00:29:42,114
And then the other team will
say, sure, I'll do it.
718
00:29:42,114 --> 00:29:44,282
And then you'll start working
through some of the details,
719
00:29:44,282 --> 00:29:45,701
and then somebody will
back out.
720
00:29:45,701 --> 00:29:48,829
And that's what I just expected
to happen with this deal.
721
00:29:48,829 --> 00:29:50,247
But then I talked to Jerry,
and usually,
722
00:29:50,247 --> 00:29:52,833
when two owners talk,
it's gonna be a done deal.
723
00:29:52,833 --> 00:29:55,752
That's kind of
the cementing the deal, right,
724
00:29:55,752 --> 00:29:59,631
owner to owner, not GM to GM,
725
00:29:59,631 --> 00:30:03,301
saying, OK, you know,
we've got a deal.
726
00:30:03,301 --> 00:30:04,970
And, bam, this is
going to happen.
727
00:30:04,970 --> 00:30:06,805
- We never had a deal
with Dallas.
728
00:30:06,805 --> 00:30:10,225
Yeah, you can't always
believe Mark, OK?
729
00:30:10,225 --> 00:30:12,477
And you can tell him I said so.
730
00:30:12,477 --> 00:30:15,063
♪ ♪
731
00:30:15,063 --> 00:30:18,150
We had a meeting
at Dr. Buss's house.
732
00:30:18,150 --> 00:30:20,944
ROB: It was myself
and Kobe and Mitch
733
00:30:20,944 --> 00:30:24,072
and Jimmy and Dr. Buss
sitting around,
734
00:30:24,072 --> 00:30:25,490
talking everything through.
735
00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:27,868
- Yeah, we kind of, like,
went around the room,
736
00:30:27,868 --> 00:30:29,578
and, well, did you
contact this team?
737
00:30:29,578 --> 00:30:30,912
Yeah, we did.
738
00:30:30,912 --> 00:30:33,248
And, well, they wouldn't
give us all we wanted, Kobe.
739
00:30:33,248 --> 00:30:37,002
He says, well, if they gave you
everything that you asked for,
740
00:30:37,002 --> 00:30:40,881
then I would be the only guy
on that team.
741
00:30:40,881 --> 00:30:42,424
And we said, that's true.
742
00:30:42,424 --> 00:30:45,260
He said, well, that team would
be no better than the Lakers.
743
00:30:45,260 --> 00:30:46,970
And we said, yes, that's true.
744
00:30:48,638 --> 00:30:52,267
And the team will
remain nameless,
745
00:30:52,267 --> 00:30:57,981
but we found a team that
wouldn't give us equal value,
746
00:30:57,981 --> 00:31:00,484
but they gave us everything.
747
00:31:00,484 --> 00:31:02,694
- They had said,
hey, we've got a framework
748
00:31:02,694 --> 00:31:04,988
for a potential trade
to the Pistons.
749
00:31:04,988 --> 00:31:10,035
And that was not something
Kobe was interested in doing.
750
00:31:12,037 --> 00:31:13,038
VANESSA BRYANT:
Because I wasn't going
751
00:31:13,038 --> 00:31:14,247
to move to Detroit.
752
00:31:14,247 --> 00:31:15,499
INTERVIEWER:
Why's that?
753
00:31:15,499 --> 00:31:17,250
- I'm a Cali girl.
I--you know, I--
754
00:31:17,250 --> 00:31:19,002
everyone--
like, my family's here.
755
00:31:19,002 --> 00:31:20,087
It's just one of those things.
756
00:31:20,087 --> 00:31:22,255
[sentimental music]
757
00:31:22,255 --> 00:31:24,674
Before Kobe and I got married,
758
00:31:24,674 --> 00:31:26,551
I had told him
I wasn't going to move.
759
00:31:26,551 --> 00:31:28,470
I used to joke with him
and say, like,
760
00:31:28,470 --> 00:31:30,180
you can move,
but I'm not gonna move.
761
00:31:31,473 --> 00:31:32,933
He loved LA.
762
00:31:32,933 --> 00:31:35,602
So I remember calling
Rob Pelinka, Kobe's agent.
763
00:31:35,602 --> 00:31:39,314
And I asked him
if there was any possible way
764
00:31:39,314 --> 00:31:43,443
that we could find a loophole
to keep Kobe in LA.
765
00:31:43,443 --> 00:31:47,405
And he says, there's something
called a no-trade clause.
766
00:31:47,405 --> 00:31:50,909
And I said, I need Kobe
to have that in his contract.
767
00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,371
And I made sure
that we put that in there.
768
00:31:54,371 --> 00:31:56,081
INTERVIEWER: You made sure?
VANESSA: Yeah.
769
00:31:56,081 --> 00:31:57,124
INTERVIEWER:
Only LA?
770
00:31:57,124 --> 00:31:59,126
- Only LA--the sunshine.
771
00:31:59,126 --> 00:32:01,128
INTERVIEWER: I agree with you.
- [chuckles]
772
00:32:01,128 --> 00:32:03,338
♪ ♪
773
00:32:03,338 --> 00:32:04,923
JEANIE: I don't think
Kobe ever wanted
774
00:32:04,923 --> 00:32:06,424
to be anywhere else.
775
00:32:06,424 --> 00:32:08,927
He wanted to be
a Laker for life.
776
00:32:08,927 --> 00:32:12,764
But he needed my dad
and my dad's vision
777
00:32:12,764 --> 00:32:17,894
and his commitment to put
this franchise back on top.
778
00:32:23,483 --> 00:32:24,943
SPORTSCASTER:
In a swift and bold move,
779
00:32:24,943 --> 00:32:27,320
the Lakers front office
acquired one of the best
780
00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:28,530
big men in the game.
781
00:32:28,530 --> 00:32:30,949
- Simply the biggest NBA
in-season trade
782
00:32:30,949 --> 00:32:34,161
so far this year, as the Lakers
acquire talented big man,
783
00:32:34,161 --> 00:32:35,829
Pau Gasol, from the Grizzlies.
784
00:32:35,829 --> 00:32:38,248
PERSON: Who would have ever
thought that the Lakers could
785
00:32:38,248 --> 00:32:40,834
come up with this kind
of a player?
786
00:32:40,834 --> 00:32:43,170
[jazzy music]
787
00:32:43,170 --> 00:32:47,007
- When Mitch Kupchak came
to you and said something like,
788
00:32:47,007 --> 00:32:50,218
I can get you Pau Gasol
for Kwame Brown,
789
00:32:50,218 --> 00:32:53,555
what did you say back?
790
00:32:53,555 --> 00:32:55,640
- [chuckles] No, you can't.
791
00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:59,102
But--
[laughter]
792
00:32:59,102 --> 00:33:01,354
MITCH: We made the trade
a day or two later,
793
00:33:01,354 --> 00:33:04,024
and nobody knew.
794
00:33:04,024 --> 00:33:07,068
I think the night before,
I told Phil.
795
00:33:07,068 --> 00:33:09,487
Like, really? That's good.
796
00:33:09,487 --> 00:33:12,282
Right, and then walked
in the locker room.
797
00:33:12,282 --> 00:33:14,534
JEANIE: I think,
had that trade leaked out,
798
00:33:14,534 --> 00:33:16,328
there would have been another
team that would have
799
00:33:16,328 --> 00:33:19,623
offered more or would have
convinced Memphis
800
00:33:19,623 --> 00:33:22,083
not to make the Lakers better.
801
00:33:22,083 --> 00:33:24,044
It was one of those
game changers,
802
00:33:24,044 --> 00:33:28,506
bringing a talent like Pau
to join Kobe Bryant.
803
00:33:28,506 --> 00:33:29,633
MARK:
I was not happy.
804
00:33:29,633 --> 00:33:30,967
There are certain trades
where you think,
805
00:33:30,967 --> 00:33:32,219
OK, thank God
they made that trade.
806
00:33:32,219 --> 00:33:33,220
And there are certain trades
where you go,
807
00:33:33,220 --> 00:33:35,138
aw, shit, this is not good.
808
00:33:35,138 --> 00:33:37,349
- I was in shock.
I couldn't process it.
809
00:33:37,349 --> 00:33:40,894
It was, um, something
that I didn't really expect
810
00:33:40,894 --> 00:33:44,022
at that time, but it happened.
811
00:33:44,022 --> 00:33:47,901
And a whole new world
opened up.
812
00:33:47,901 --> 00:33:49,194
SPORTSCASTER: Bryant is
spinning in the lane.
813
00:33:49,194 --> 00:33:51,279
Back for Gasol--a pretty pass!
814
00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:53,114
And it's back
to a 3-point game.
815
00:33:53,114 --> 00:33:56,451
[dramatic music]
816
00:33:56,451 --> 00:33:58,161
- As soon as I landed
in Washington,
817
00:33:58,161 --> 00:33:59,829
he said, Pau,
let me know when you land.
818
00:33:59,829 --> 00:34:01,581
When you get to the hotel,
I want to come see you.
819
00:34:01,581 --> 00:34:02,791
I said, OK, are you sure?
820
00:34:02,791 --> 00:34:04,084
You got a game tomorrow
at noon.
821
00:34:04,084 --> 00:34:05,752
He's like, no, no,
I'm coming to see you.
822
00:34:05,752 --> 00:34:09,297
And Kobe comes, and again,
it's past 1:00 a. m.
823
00:34:09,297 --> 00:34:11,132
And he's like, Pau,
welcome to the team.
824
00:34:11,132 --> 00:34:14,636
I can tell you, like, I'm
super happy that you're here.
825
00:34:14,636 --> 00:34:16,554
But now, let's go
win a championship.
826
00:34:16,554 --> 00:34:17,806
We're not gonna wait
for next season.
827
00:34:17,806 --> 00:34:19,766
We're gonna go
for it right now.
828
00:34:19,766 --> 00:34:21,559
And he was dead serious.
829
00:34:21,559 --> 00:34:25,897
♪ ♪
830
00:34:25,897 --> 00:34:27,232
FLEA:
The Lakers got Pau Gasol,
831
00:34:27,232 --> 00:34:29,150
and I was just over the moon.
832
00:34:29,150 --> 00:34:30,235
There's nothing
that can stop us.
833
00:34:30,235 --> 00:34:31,278
We're gonna win.
834
00:34:31,278 --> 00:34:32,529
We're gonna win
the championship.
835
00:34:32,529 --> 00:34:34,406
- And just his basketball,
like, his passing,
836
00:34:34,406 --> 00:34:36,658
you know, his ability to handle
the ball at that size,
837
00:34:36,658 --> 00:34:38,618
his synergy already with Kobe--
838
00:34:38,618 --> 00:34:40,704
because Kobe's such
a high basketball IQ player,
839
00:34:40,704 --> 00:34:42,831
that it didn't
really take too long
840
00:34:42,831 --> 00:34:45,500
for them to learn
how to play together.
841
00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:47,460
♪ ♪
842
00:34:47,460 --> 00:34:49,087
PAU: Right off the bat,
everything clicked.
843
00:34:49,087 --> 00:34:50,630
I just saw
my teammates were moving.
844
00:34:50,630 --> 00:34:51,840
They were screening
for each other
845
00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:53,049
when I had the ball
in the post.
846
00:34:53,049 --> 00:34:54,634
We were playing pick and roll,
847
00:34:54,634 --> 00:34:56,886
whether it was on the side
or on the top of the floor.
848
00:34:56,886 --> 00:34:58,847
Kobe Bryant handling the ball,
849
00:34:58,847 --> 00:35:01,808
attracting my defender,
and getting me open.
850
00:35:01,808 --> 00:35:05,061
It was just a matter
of making reads and plays.
851
00:35:05,061 --> 00:35:06,896
LUKE:
He was a perfect number two,
852
00:35:06,896 --> 00:35:09,733
a perfect Robin to a Batman.
853
00:35:09,733 --> 00:35:11,651
And that's kind of
when I was like, OK,
854
00:35:11,651 --> 00:35:14,154
this could be one
of those special teams.
855
00:35:15,405 --> 00:35:18,533
- I have to tip my hat off
to Buss and Mitch for--
856
00:35:18,533 --> 00:35:20,910
you know,
for going forward with this.
857
00:35:20,910 --> 00:35:24,581
And, you know, now it's on us
to go out there and work hard.
858
00:35:24,581 --> 00:35:26,708
PERSON: This is a move
that puts the Lakers
859
00:35:26,708 --> 00:35:28,668
right among the leaders
in the West,
860
00:35:28,668 --> 00:35:31,129
and puts them
in position to contend
861
00:35:31,129 --> 00:35:34,799
not just for the Western crown
but, uh, for the NBA title.
862
00:35:34,799 --> 00:35:38,553
♪ ♪
863
00:35:38,553 --> 00:35:40,597
SPORTSCASTER: Kobe,
you guys are 32 and 7 now
864
00:35:40,597 --> 00:35:42,766
since Pau Gasol has been
wearing that uniform.
865
00:35:42,766 --> 00:35:45,143
- That's a pretty good trade.
- Yeah, it's not bad.
866
00:35:45,143 --> 00:35:48,313
♪ ♪
867
00:35:48,313 --> 00:35:51,149
- I don't think anybody could
have ever imagined
868
00:35:51,149 --> 00:35:52,609
us being here right now.
869
00:35:52,609 --> 00:35:56,071
♪ ♪
870
00:35:56,071 --> 00:35:58,406
[cheers and applause]
871
00:35:58,406 --> 00:36:00,659
SPORTSCASTER:
And the Lakers win by 8
872
00:36:00,659 --> 00:36:04,037
and win the series
four games to one.
873
00:36:04,037 --> 00:36:07,040
Los Angeles on
to the NBA Finals.
874
00:36:08,750 --> 00:36:10,502
NEWSCASTER:
The buzz is back in Boston.
875
00:36:10,502 --> 00:36:12,337
Celtics fans have
waited 21 years
876
00:36:12,337 --> 00:36:14,005
for this moment,
a chance to play
877
00:36:14,005 --> 00:36:16,675
for their 17th championship.
878
00:36:16,675 --> 00:36:19,219
SPORTSCASTER: This is
the NBA's marquee matchup
879
00:36:19,219 --> 00:36:21,721
between the two most
successful franchises
880
00:36:21,721 --> 00:36:23,098
in NBA history.
881
00:36:23,098 --> 00:36:24,224
RAMONA: Yeah, I mean,
it's Lakers-Celtics.
882
00:36:24,224 --> 00:36:26,184
That's a classic,
and you hadn't seen that
883
00:36:26,184 --> 00:36:27,227
since the '80s.
884
00:36:27,227 --> 00:36:31,481
ANNOUNCER:
Rajon Rondo!
885
00:36:31,481 --> 00:36:33,441
RAJON RONDO: Being in Boston,
they hadn't won a championship
886
00:36:33,441 --> 00:36:35,193
in 21 or 22 years at the time.
887
00:36:35,193 --> 00:36:37,153
So me being 20 years old,
888
00:36:37,153 --> 00:36:40,031
I didn't care
about Magic or Bird.
889
00:36:40,031 --> 00:36:41,074
I just wanted to win.
890
00:36:41,074 --> 00:36:42,283
[somber music]
891
00:36:42,283 --> 00:36:43,618
RAMONA:
Celtics were supposed to win.
892
00:36:43,618 --> 00:36:46,246
They just made this huge
trade for Kevin Garnett.
893
00:36:46,246 --> 00:36:47,497
They had Paul Pierce.
894
00:36:47,497 --> 00:36:49,040
They had traded for Ray Allen.
895
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,710
This was the team to beat
all year long.
896
00:36:51,710 --> 00:36:54,587
CROWD: [chanting]
Beat LA! Beat LA! Beat LA!
897
00:36:54,587 --> 00:36:57,132
PHIL: The worst feeling
of all the feelings
898
00:36:57,132 --> 00:37:00,051
you get in basketball
is if you lose in the Finals.
899
00:37:00,051 --> 00:37:02,178
CROWD:
[chanting] Beat LA! Beat LA!
900
00:37:02,178 --> 00:37:05,849
SPORTSCASTER: The Lakers
are in a world of hurt.
901
00:37:05,849 --> 00:37:07,142
DEREK: Any time you play
for the Lakers
902
00:37:07,142 --> 00:37:08,435
and you lose to the Celtics,
903
00:37:08,435 --> 00:37:09,936
it's a terrible thing.
904
00:37:09,936 --> 00:37:15,358
But the loss to the Celtics
in '08 felt gut-wrenching.
905
00:37:15,358 --> 00:37:18,153
SPORTSCASTER: Boston's
blowing out LA right now.
906
00:37:18,153 --> 00:37:19,863
DEREK: You have to kind of
start to ask yourself,
907
00:37:19,863 --> 00:37:22,991
hey, is this meant to be again,
or is that it?
908
00:37:22,991 --> 00:37:27,620
SPORTSCASTER: Game, set,
match, season, championship.
909
00:37:27,620 --> 00:37:29,706
[cheers and applause]
910
00:37:29,706 --> 00:37:31,207
KOBE: Knowing the history
of the game, well,
911
00:37:31,207 --> 00:37:35,003
I know that teams that make it
to the Finals and lose,
912
00:37:35,003 --> 00:37:37,672
the next year,
they don't go back.
913
00:37:37,672 --> 00:37:39,340
They don't go back.
914
00:37:39,340 --> 00:37:41,468
♪ ♪
915
00:37:41,468 --> 00:37:42,635
I'm going in my mind, like,
916
00:37:42,635 --> 00:37:44,012
you're not gonna have
any more chances.
917
00:37:44,012 --> 00:37:45,221
Like, you blew this.
918
00:37:45,221 --> 00:37:46,514
This was your chance
to win without Shaq.
919
00:37:46,514 --> 00:37:48,475
Now he's laughing because,
you know,
920
00:37:48,475 --> 00:37:50,643
everybody's saying that
you can't win without him.
921
00:37:50,643 --> 00:37:51,853
You can't get it done.
922
00:37:51,853 --> 00:37:55,482
♪ ♪
923
00:37:55,482 --> 00:37:57,692
SHAQ: ♪ Check it,
you know how I be ♪
924
00:37:57,692 --> 00:38:00,487
♪ Last week,
Kobe couldn't do without me ♪
925
00:38:00,487 --> 00:38:01,821
[cheers]
926
00:38:01,821 --> 00:38:03,239
♪ You know how I be ♪
927
00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:05,784
♪ Last week,
Kobe couldn't do without me ♪
928
00:38:05,784 --> 00:38:07,577
♪ Now stop, think about that ♪
929
00:38:07,577 --> 00:38:08,787
♪ It ain't about that ♪
930
00:38:08,787 --> 00:38:11,539
♪ It's about B-I-G,
AKA Big Shaq ♪
931
00:38:11,539 --> 00:38:13,958
♪ Now, that's the difference
between first and last place ♪
932
00:38:13,958 --> 00:38:18,338
♪ Kobe, you [bleep],
tell me how my ass tastes ♪
933
00:38:18,338 --> 00:38:22,467
♪ OK, Kobe,
tell me how my ass tastes ♪
934
00:38:22,467 --> 00:38:24,302
[cheers]
935
00:38:24,302 --> 00:38:26,054
RAMONA: Shaq's allowed
to say that now.
936
00:38:26,054 --> 00:38:27,680
He won, and Kobe didn't.
937
00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,390
Like, you're allowed to.
938
00:38:29,390 --> 00:38:31,518
And if you know Kobe the way
that we all know Kobe,
939
00:38:31,518 --> 00:38:34,062
Kobe's like, fuck you,
I'm gonna show you.
940
00:38:34,062 --> 00:38:36,439
- [indistinct speech]
941
00:38:36,439 --> 00:38:37,982
- He wanted it bad.
942
00:38:37,982 --> 00:38:40,360
And he wanted all his teammates
to want it as bad as he did,
943
00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:43,404
because he understood
that he needed his teammates
944
00:38:43,404 --> 00:38:45,865
in order to win.
945
00:38:45,865 --> 00:38:48,910
LAMAR: Being great
is a lonely place.
946
00:38:48,910 --> 00:38:51,454
And that's why he didn't
really have too many friends.
947
00:38:51,454 --> 00:38:52,872
But he had a one-track mind.
948
00:38:52,872 --> 00:38:54,749
And when it was time to work,
it was time to work--
949
00:38:54,749 --> 00:38:58,044
just work, work, work, work
950
00:38:58,044 --> 00:39:00,713
till the wheels fall off.
951
00:39:00,713 --> 00:39:04,634
And he just said, yo, Lamar,
don't be afraid to be great.
952
00:39:04,634 --> 00:39:07,595
LUKE: It really was like
a team going into that season.
953
00:39:07,595 --> 00:39:09,347
Like, we were
on each other every day
954
00:39:09,347 --> 00:39:12,976
about the only thing that
matters is the championship.
955
00:39:12,976 --> 00:39:14,936
PHIL: And I had a conversation
with him at the end
956
00:39:14,936 --> 00:39:17,397
of the year about
how the team was gonna change,
957
00:39:17,397 --> 00:39:19,774
and about how to do it.
958
00:39:19,774 --> 00:39:21,943
But he kind of figured it out.
959
00:39:21,943 --> 00:39:23,319
He made it plain to everybody,
960
00:39:23,319 --> 00:39:26,698
this is my agenda
I'm working towards.
961
00:39:26,698 --> 00:39:28,408
DEREK:
Coming back that next year,
962
00:39:28,408 --> 00:39:30,118
from a leadership standpoint,
963
00:39:30,118 --> 00:39:34,122
he just was a more balanced,
calm, relaxed dude.
964
00:39:34,122 --> 00:39:37,417
Like, he still wanted to win
and obsessed about winning,
965
00:39:37,417 --> 00:39:40,670
but he started to process
and understand
966
00:39:40,670 --> 00:39:43,590
just human interaction
and relationship
967
00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:45,967
in a different way.
968
00:39:45,967 --> 00:39:50,305
I thought that made
for a better leader.
969
00:39:50,305 --> 00:39:52,682
There was definitely
desire to like, OK,
970
00:39:52,682 --> 00:39:53,933
let's figure out
how to get back
971
00:39:53,933 --> 00:39:55,435
to the top of this mountain.
972
00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:01,149
VANESSA: That year, I took
the girls to go visit Kobe.
973
00:40:01,149 --> 00:40:04,444
And Natalia and Gianna
were Girl Scouts.
974
00:40:04,444 --> 00:40:07,238
So we came up with an idea
of hitting up the rookies
975
00:40:07,238 --> 00:40:09,115
to buy some
Girl Scout cookies.
976
00:40:09,115 --> 00:40:11,409
So Kobe walked us downstairs.
977
00:40:11,409 --> 00:40:15,413
He bangs on the door,
and in walks Kobe.
978
00:40:15,413 --> 00:40:16,915
So they're all shocked.
979
00:40:16,915 --> 00:40:21,502
And one of the newbies bought
a $4 box of cookies.
980
00:40:21,502 --> 00:40:24,088
I looked at Kobe.
Kobe looks at me.
981
00:40:24,088 --> 00:40:25,590
We're like, yeah,
that's not gonna work.
982
00:40:25,590 --> 00:40:28,843
So I grab the order form.
983
00:40:28,843 --> 00:40:30,553
And I went to the guys,
984
00:40:30,553 --> 00:40:33,348
and I was like,
I need you to show him
985
00:40:33,348 --> 00:40:36,017
how badly you want
to be here next year.
986
00:40:36,017 --> 00:40:39,270
And they bought
a shit ton of cookies.
987
00:40:39,270 --> 00:40:41,940
[chuckles] So many cookies
988
00:40:41,940 --> 00:40:44,734
that Natalia was
the highest-selling Girl Scout
989
00:40:44,734 --> 00:40:46,069
in Orange County.
990
00:40:46,069 --> 00:40:47,487
INTERVIEWER:
That's gangster. [chuckles]
991
00:40:51,699 --> 00:40:52,700
- Hey, this is Jeanie.
992
00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:53,701
And it is Sunday, April 19th.
993
00:40:53,701 --> 00:40:54,702
It's the start of the Playoffs.
994
00:40:54,702 --> 00:40:56,162
Here we are finally,
995
00:40:56,162 --> 00:40:58,414
what we've been waiting for
all year.
996
00:40:58,414 --> 00:40:59,457
It's a beautiful day.
997
00:40:59,457 --> 00:41:01,417
Let's hear what Phil has
to say.
998
00:41:01,417 --> 00:41:03,920
- Oh, honey, you sound
like you're in a rush.
999
00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:06,255
JEANIE: No, well,
I'm just excited, I guess.
1000
00:41:06,255 --> 00:41:08,549
It's early morning.
It's--
1001
00:41:08,549 --> 00:41:11,719
it's like, you know,
the timing is just different.
1002
00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:12,929
- Yeah, it is. Different.
1003
00:41:12,929 --> 00:41:13,930
JEANIE:
How do you think your team will
1004
00:41:13,930 --> 00:41:16,307
react to such an early game?
1005
00:41:16,307 --> 00:41:19,769
- Well, it's always hard,
you know, to--
1006
00:41:19,769 --> 00:41:21,813
what do you do,
have a breakfast at 9 o'clock,
1007
00:41:21,813 --> 00:41:23,147
and then you start
playing the game,
1008
00:41:23,147 --> 00:41:25,608
and by, you know, noon,
you're hungry as a bear?
1009
00:41:25,608 --> 00:41:28,695
You know, do you have steak
at 10:00, you know,
1010
00:41:28,695 --> 00:41:31,864
and, uh, you know, have a big
meal to start out your day
1011
00:41:31,864 --> 00:41:34,701
so you can sustain,
you know, whatever?
1012
00:41:34,701 --> 00:41:36,411
JEANIE:
I would do whatever Kobe does
1013
00:41:36,411 --> 00:41:38,579
because Kobe always
has good games.
1014
00:41:38,579 --> 00:41:40,707
- Really?
JEANIE: In early morning games.
1015
00:41:40,707 --> 00:41:41,749
Yes.
- Is that so?
1016
00:41:41,749 --> 00:41:43,042
JEANIE: Yes.
- I can count on it, OK.
1017
00:41:43,042 --> 00:41:44,127
JEANIE:
Yes.
1018
00:41:44,127 --> 00:41:45,378
- Let's go, man.
It's dance time.
1019
00:41:45,378 --> 00:41:46,629
PLAYER 1: Make it today now.
Make it today.
1020
00:41:46,629 --> 00:41:47,839
KOBE: It's dance time.
PLAYER 2: Let's go!
1021
00:41:47,839 --> 00:41:48,840
KOBE: Been the best damn
team all year long.
1022
00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:50,049
PLAYER 2:
Let's get it, team!
1023
00:41:50,049 --> 00:41:51,300
KOBE: Let's cap this shit
off the right way.
1024
00:41:51,300 --> 00:41:52,301
Let's go out there and take
what's ours, man.
1025
00:41:52,301 --> 00:41:53,511
Let's go get this motherfucker.
1026
00:41:53,511 --> 00:41:55,346
What time is it?
ALL: Game time, ooh!
1027
00:41:55,346 --> 00:41:57,640
SPORTSCASTER 1: Fisher,
off the dribble, putts it in.
1028
00:41:57,640 --> 00:41:59,809
There he is--[indistinct]!
1029
00:41:59,809 --> 00:42:01,436
Bryant gets inside.
1030
00:42:01,436 --> 00:42:03,438
Wow! Fires from Kobe Bryant!
1031
00:42:03,438 --> 00:42:06,566
SPORTSCASTER 2:
[indistinct speech]
1032
00:42:06,566 --> 00:42:07,817
JEANIE:
Congratulations, Coach.
1033
00:42:07,817 --> 00:42:11,112
You won Game 1
of the first round.
1034
00:42:11,112 --> 00:42:12,196
How do you feel?
1035
00:42:12,196 --> 00:42:13,698
- [sighs]
1036
00:42:13,698 --> 00:42:15,199
Well, I'm happy
we won that game.
1037
00:42:15,199 --> 00:42:17,326
That's a--you know,
just to get a game in.
1038
00:42:17,326 --> 00:42:19,370
SPORTSCASTER:
And Fish looking for 3. Yes!
1039
00:42:19,370 --> 00:42:20,621
Gasol with the left-hand--
1040
00:42:20,621 --> 00:42:23,041
- You know, there's a stat
on the stat sheet
1041
00:42:23,041 --> 00:42:27,170
that said, you know,
tonight Phil Jackson tied
1042
00:42:27,170 --> 00:42:30,465
for the most Playoff games
ever coached in the NBA.
1043
00:42:30,465 --> 00:42:32,091
JEANIE: Wow.
1044
00:42:32,091 --> 00:42:33,801
- And--you know, I had no idea.
1045
00:42:33,801 --> 00:42:36,012
I mean, I have no idea
what that even means.
1046
00:42:36,012 --> 00:42:37,513
JEANIE: [chuckles]
It means you've coached
1047
00:42:37,513 --> 00:42:38,931
a lot of games.
- Yeah.
1048
00:42:38,931 --> 00:42:40,391
SPORTSCASTER 1: Lamar--
SPORTSCASTER 2: From Fish!
1049
00:42:40,391 --> 00:42:41,684
And the foul.
1050
00:42:41,684 --> 00:42:43,686
On to the Western Conference
Semifinals
1051
00:42:43,686 --> 00:42:46,105
as the Lakers eliminate
the Utah Jazz...
1052
00:42:46,105 --> 00:42:49,567
JEANIE: Time to see
what's on Phil's mind.
1053
00:42:49,567 --> 00:42:51,569
Phil?
- ♪ Oh, what a night ♪
1054
00:42:51,569 --> 00:42:53,654
JEANIE:
[laughs]
1055
00:42:53,654 --> 00:42:55,615
SPORTSCASTER 1:
Kobe scooping,
1056
00:42:55,615 --> 00:42:57,617
driving, and putting it in!
1057
00:42:57,617 --> 00:43:00,119
How in the world
did he do that?
1058
00:43:00,119 --> 00:43:02,497
SPORTSCASTER 2:
Lamar shot. Packs it in.
1059
00:43:02,497 --> 00:43:04,290
SPORTSCASTER 1:
Odom is picking up steam.
1060
00:43:04,290 --> 00:43:05,958
SPORTSCASTER 2:
A dominant blowout victory
1061
00:43:05,958 --> 00:43:07,001
here in Game 7.
1062
00:43:07,001 --> 00:43:08,878
As we said, Lakers now advance
1063
00:43:08,878 --> 00:43:10,671
to the Western Conference
Finals.
1064
00:43:10,671 --> 00:43:11,839
Gets away from that.
1065
00:43:11,839 --> 00:43:13,132
Floats it up and in.
1066
00:43:13,132 --> 00:43:14,759
Fisher with the save.
1067
00:43:14,759 --> 00:43:16,427
Farmar, inside.
1068
00:43:16,427 --> 00:43:17,512
Nice move.
1069
00:43:17,512 --> 00:43:18,721
SPORTSCASTER 1:
As the LA Lakers
1070
00:43:18,721 --> 00:43:20,389
are Western Conference
Champions.
1071
00:43:20,389 --> 00:43:21,766
They win the series
in six games.
1072
00:43:21,766 --> 00:43:26,187
- Would this championship
be special or just the same,
1073
00:43:26,187 --> 00:43:28,022
doing it without Shaquille?
1074
00:43:28,022 --> 00:43:30,483
- You know, a lot of people
make a lot out of that.
1075
00:43:30,483 --> 00:43:31,818
MAGIC: Yeah.
- People that don't know
1076
00:43:31,818 --> 00:43:33,945
what they talking about
make a lot out of that.
1077
00:43:33,945 --> 00:43:36,656
And the truth is, he never
would have won without me.
1078
00:43:36,656 --> 00:43:38,491
And we would never would have
won without Fisher,
1079
00:43:38,491 --> 00:43:40,368
Robert, or Phil,
and everybody else.
1080
00:43:40,368 --> 00:43:41,786
I mean, that's just the truth
of the matter.
1081
00:43:41,786 --> 00:43:43,830
So to be back
in this position now,
1082
00:43:43,830 --> 00:43:46,666
to try to redeem a finish,
you know,
1083
00:43:46,666 --> 00:43:49,585
what we started last season,
would be extremely special.
1084
00:43:49,585 --> 00:43:52,755
And for us to get back
to that mountaintop
1085
00:43:52,755 --> 00:43:55,716
would just be
an amazing feeling.
1086
00:43:55,716 --> 00:43:57,385
DWIGHT HOWARD: Playing
against that Lakers team
1087
00:43:57,385 --> 00:43:59,178
in the Finals,
it just seemed like everything
1088
00:43:59,178 --> 00:44:00,596
was going right for 'em.
1089
00:44:00,596 --> 00:44:02,765
SPORTSCASTER:
Wow! Bryant banks it in.
1090
00:44:02,765 --> 00:44:04,225
Off-balance, falling down.
1091
00:44:04,225 --> 00:44:06,519
- Kobe drove down the lane.
1092
00:44:06,519 --> 00:44:09,522
And I jumped up to try
to block his shot.
1093
00:44:09,522 --> 00:44:12,525
And he went up between my arms,
1094
00:44:12,525 --> 00:44:15,194
came back down, went over,
1095
00:44:15,194 --> 00:44:17,405
and shot it off the glass.
1096
00:44:17,405 --> 00:44:19,490
There's no way he had
this much hangtime.
1097
00:44:19,490 --> 00:44:21,617
And I was like,
man, it must be--
1098
00:44:21,617 --> 00:44:24,078
it must be their time.
1099
00:44:24,078 --> 00:44:25,997
SPORTSCASTER:
And there's the final seconds.
1100
00:44:25,997 --> 00:44:27,874
As the buzzer sounds,
it's official.
1101
00:44:27,874 --> 00:44:31,210
The Lakers are NBA Champions
once again.
1102
00:44:31,210 --> 00:44:33,212
LA wins the 2009...
1103
00:44:33,212 --> 00:44:34,839
[all yelling]
1104
00:44:34,839 --> 00:44:35,882
PERSON:
Rings!
1105
00:44:35,882 --> 00:44:36,883
- All that motherfucking
hard work,
1106
00:44:36,883 --> 00:44:38,634
all that hard work.
1107
00:44:38,634 --> 00:44:41,804
[cheers and applause]
1108
00:44:41,804 --> 00:44:44,807
[stirring music]
1109
00:44:44,807 --> 00:44:51,606
♪ ♪
1110
00:45:02,742 --> 00:45:04,744
We're the champions.
1111
00:45:06,412 --> 00:45:09,290
DEREK:
The locker room felt different
1112
00:45:09,290 --> 00:45:10,791
than other years.
1113
00:45:10,791 --> 00:45:13,085
[all yelling]
1114
00:45:13,085 --> 00:45:14,754
Like, the first three
when we won,
1115
00:45:14,754 --> 00:45:17,006
you almost felt like
if you had Shaq on the team,
1116
00:45:17,006 --> 00:45:19,091
like, you can't have
the biggest dude on the block
1117
00:45:19,091 --> 00:45:21,052
and not figure out how to win.
1118
00:45:21,052 --> 00:45:24,347
But after losing
to the Pistons in '04,
1119
00:45:24,347 --> 00:45:26,849
losing to the Celtics in '08,
1120
00:45:26,849 --> 00:45:28,100
and then at that time, like,
1121
00:45:28,100 --> 00:45:31,270
understanding
what Kobe's legacy meant
1122
00:45:31,270 --> 00:45:33,898
around winning championships
without Shaq,
1123
00:45:33,898 --> 00:45:35,858
what does basketball
really mean?
1124
00:45:38,486 --> 00:45:44,492
Like, winning the title in '09
just kind of...
1125
00:45:44,492 --> 00:45:47,078
like, it just--it felt right.
1126
00:45:47,078 --> 00:45:50,706
Like, it felt like,
OK, this is where I belong.
1127
00:45:50,706 --> 00:45:53,709
It was really special, man,
like, really special.
1128
00:45:53,709 --> 00:45:56,045
And Kobe and I were sitting on,
1129
00:45:56,045 --> 00:45:57,713
like, kind of a wooden,
like, bleacher thing,
1130
00:45:57,713 --> 00:45:58,965
like, in the locker room.
1131
00:45:58,965 --> 00:46:00,424
and we were just
kind of sitting there.
1132
00:46:00,424 --> 00:46:04,428
And--remember LL Cool J
had the song
1133
00:46:04,428 --> 00:46:06,847
"Mama Said Knock You Out."
1134
00:46:06,847 --> 00:46:11,602
And there's a verse in the song
where he says--
1135
00:46:11,602 --> 00:46:14,772
♪ Don't call it a comeback,
I've been here for years ♪
1136
00:46:14,772 --> 00:46:15,898
♪ I'm rocking the-- ♪
[chuckles]
1137
00:46:15,898 --> 00:46:18,317
And I'm like, literally,
1138
00:46:18,317 --> 00:46:20,486
Kobe and I are just
sitting there for a second
1139
00:46:20,486 --> 00:46:23,656
in the locker room in Orlando.
1140
00:46:23,656 --> 00:46:27,243
And I just--I broke
into this LL Cool J verse.
1141
00:46:27,243 --> 00:46:29,578
And we both died
and started laughing,
1142
00:46:29,578 --> 00:46:36,502
and just, like,
in that moment recognizing, um,
1143
00:46:36,502 --> 00:46:39,005
like, we're back
where we belong.
1144
00:46:42,008 --> 00:46:44,010
[laughs]
1145
00:46:44,010 --> 00:46:45,636
Back where we belong.