There are pretenders, contenders and champions, and then there are rarities like Kobe Bryant.
The kind of player who prefers to sip champagne only through the funnels of championship trophies, who celebrates just long enough for his clothing to get drenched before new challenges pique his imagination and fuel his motivation.
We call it an inability to smell the roses, to enjoy the sunshine before it rains, but Bryant has had a beautifully scented garden for some time off a boulevard in Hollywood. Even when it rains, his life continues to blossom.
Bryant is 24 years old. A three-time NBA champion. A recent husband, father, and $45 million man with Nike. Yet he is so far from satisfied, he's also the potential nightmare that could paralyze Tinseltown, the very place where dreams are created.
Bryant made news on Thursday when ESPN announced that he plans to opt out of his contract and test free agency after next season expires. But for anyone close to Bryant, this hardly qualified as a surprise.
Via Philadelphia Inquirer
Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies will exercise the option on the contracts of forwards Robert Archibald and Chris Owens. The two are now under contract for the 2003-04 season.
The team also made a qualifying offer to forward Mike Batiste. Batiste now becomes a restricted free agent and, according to league rules, if another team signs Batiste to an offer sheet, the Griz have 15 days to match.
Via Memphis Commercial Appeal
Memphis Grizzlies
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Troy Bell spent his NBA draft day Thursday at his family's home in Minnesota, helping arrange tables and chairs for his draft party.
"I wasn't nervous at all," he said.
Dahntay Jones, on the other hand, spent part of the day getting in one last workout for the Atlanta Hawks before rushing back to his family in New York City.
"It was crazy day," Jones said.
Both the 6-1 Bell from Boston College and the 6-6 Jones from Duke seemed a little dazed and fatigued when the Grizzlies' first-round draft choices met with the media on Friday at The Pyramid.
After Grizzlies president of basketball operations Jerry West introduced combo guard Bell and swingman Jones, Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown said trading with Boston to get the Celtics' No. 16 (Bell) and No. 20 (Jones) picks was "a win-win situation."
"Once we couldn't move up in the draft to get who we wanted, we had to go with Plan 'B'," Brown said. "We had to trade because Dahntay Jones wouldn't have been there at our 27th pick. Atlanta was going to take him at 21. Anytime you trade down, you're taking a gamble, but we're thrilled with the guys we got."
Via Memphis Commercial Appeal
Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, NBA Draft
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Grizzlies Jun 2003 Archive
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Commercial Appeal | Jun 27, 2003
Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown didn't waste his breath after all.
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Commercial Appeal | Jun 27, 2003
Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams underwent successful surgery Thursday to remove bone spurs from his left ankle.
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Mercury News | Jun 27, 2003
You kept waiting for the other sneaker to drop.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 26, 2003
Don't be surprised to see NBA commissioner David Stern walk toward the draft podium and announce:
With the 13th pick, the Memphis Grizzlies select.
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Washington Post | Jun 26, 2003
When the NBA draft begins tonight at 7 at New York's Madison Square Garden, Michael Sweetney will be sitting in the Green Room, the invitation-only, backstage pad for players expected to go early in the first round.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 25, 2003
Barring an 11th-hour trade that would significantly improve their draft position or help land a veteran big man, the Grizzlies are poised to keep the 13th pick in Thursday's draft.
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Houston Chronicle | Jun 22, 2003
As the Rockets' brass is reminded this week of all the first-round talent it cannot choose, the decisions it cannot make and party it really cannot attend, it can console itself with the knowledge of why the Rockets do not have a first-round draft pick.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 19, 2003
Play locally, televise regionally.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 17, 2003
Poland's Maciej Lampe ended his Grizzlies workout in a jovial mood.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 15, 2003
You've got questions.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 14, 2003
Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown had seen enough.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 11, 2003
Participants
Greece's Sofoklis Schortsianitis (6-10, 314-pound forward), San Diego's Jason Keep (6-10, 280-pound forward), Russia's Pavel Podkolzine (7-4f , 310-pound center) and Louisville's Marvin Stone (6-10, 240-pound forward).
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 11, 2003
Say this about Pavel Podkolzine: If the Grizzlies want him, they're going to have to move up to get him.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 10, 2003
Put down that NBA mock draft.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 8, 2003
Shane Battier was neither shaken up nor stirred this weekend.
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Miami Herald | Jun 8, 2003
The Chicago Bulls are interested in Memphis' Shane Battier, and the Grizzlies are interested in getting the No.
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Chicago Sun-Times | Jun 6, 2003
With the NBA predraft camp in his backyard at Moody Bible Institute, Bulls operations chief John Paxson probably felt lucky not to have to travel as much as the other general managers.
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Chicago Tribune | Jun 5, 2003
John Paxson is a popular guy at the NBA predraft camp this week, and not just because of the sharp Bulls golf shirt he has been wearing.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 3, 2003
The NBA Pre-Draft Camp begins today in Chicago, but Kendrick Perkins won't be a part of it even though the University of Memphis signee was invited.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 3, 2003
This time next year, your Memphis Grizzlies gear will officially become collectors' items.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jun 3, 2003
Amelo vive and aimer il habite.
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Chicago Sun-Times | Jun 3, 2003
It's just as well the talent pool at this week's predraft camp isn't as deep as in years past, because Bulls operations chief John Paxson won't be focused exclusively on the draft prospects.
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New York Times | Jun 1, 2003
Jerry West takes no credit for bringing two of his favorite people together.
