Former Lakers guard and all-time great Kobe Bryant spoke out about Anthony Davis requesting a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans with a “pro-players” message.
Players should have the freedom to be able to speak their piece, and listen, management certainly does that. I’ve been very lucky to play with the Lakers, class organization that takes care of their players. But a lot of players aren’t that fortunate and at the first sign that they can improve themselves they’ll cast you aside. And so you can’t just have it one way and say ‘okay players need to be loyal to organizations’ but not demand the same thing the other way around. So until that day happens, players should definitely have the opportunity to speak up and control their own fate, it’s just the way it should be, it’s fair.
. #Kobe on #AnthonyDavis getting fined for his trade request “At the 1st sign they can improve they (teams) will cast you aside…….players should definitely have the right to speak up and control their fate, it’s only fair” WATCH 👀 #Lakers #NBA @AntDavis23 @Power106LA pic.twitter.com/3vhkSo3G1s
— Jeff G the SportsDude (@TheSportsDude) January 31, 2019
It’s no secret that in the past, Bryant requested a trade from the Lakers and didn’t receive it. However, something happened between him and the organization and they were able to work out a way where he wouldn’t have to be moved. It seems that the Pelicans are past that point with Anthony Davis, and Bryant is defending the star for doing what was in his best interests.
Other stars recently have expressed a desire to be traded out of their situation, with Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leanord and Paul George being the most recent examples, but none of them did it as publicly as Davis did. The closest any of them came to publicly request a trade was Butler, but all of them had “reports” that they had requested a trade and given the teams they were on lists of places they wished to be traded. Only Butler was traded to his desired destination, but George was able to reach a new deal with the team that acquired him.
Only time will tell how the Davis situation will play out, but Kobe Bryant seems to support players speaking out for their best interests.
