Kobe says Jazz fans 'nasty'
When Kobe Bryant was introduced at EnergySolutions Arena on Wednesday, he was met with a loud chorus of boos, mixed with a smaller chorus of cheers.
But make no mistake, Bryant takes extra delight in winning games in the spot where he got his earliest playoff experience. After leading the Lakers with 40 points on Wednesday against the Jazz, he was asked if he drew on his early-career experiences in Utah, each time he comes back.
“”I draw from the crowd a lot. The crowd here, they’re pretty nasty. I don’t want give them the satisfaction of walking away from here saying that they won,” Bryant said.
With the Jazz having won five home games at ESA, Bryant was asked if the Jazz are getting back their home court advantage. “It’s always been here, at least for us. I don’t know about other teams, but when we came here, they always played us tough.”
THOSE INHOSPITABLE JAZZ
Bryant did have nice things to say about the young, upcoming Jazz.
“They have a lot of talent, a lot of promise,” Bryant said. “I’m really high on Hayward. I think he has tremendous upside.”
As to whether he has upcoming games in Utah marked on the calendar he said, “I don’t know when we come in again, but when we do, I want to win. That’s for (expletive) sure.”
For more quotes on what Kobe thinks of the ESA crowd, read my Thursday column at