HoopsHype.com Rumors

This dunk that Kobe put on Todd MacCulloch‘s head during the 2002 NBA Finals is probably one of the most overlooked facials in Finals history. It was nasty. This new commercial (titled “Forever Kobe”) from the league’s Finals 2013 “BIG” campaign begins airing tonight, and it’s probably going to be one of our favorite commercials of the year. Oh yeah, that beat? It’s from Mos Def and his song, “Life in Marvelous Times.” Dime

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Commercials 

Kobe Bryant: Mamba print tat on the left side of my face #ink Twitter @kobebryant

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

Mike Trudell: By the All-NBA vote, @Kobe Bryant has been one of the NBA’s top 2 guards in 64.7% of his seasons, and top 6 in 88.2% of his campaigns. Twitter @LakersReporter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

In addition to his 11 titles with the Celtics in the 1950s and 1960s, Russell was a five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star. Jordan won six championships playing for the Bulls in the 1990s under Jackson, earning five MVP awards and 14 All-Star Game selections. Jackson dodged when asked to select between Jordan and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, whom he coached to five titles between 2000 and 2010. “I would flip a coin,” he said. “Whichever one came up heads or tails, I’d take that person. They were that good.” SI.com

Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson 

Darnell Mayberry: Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant have been named to the All-NBA First Team. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan 

The second best-selling active NBA pitchman is Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. His Kobe 8 signature shoes sold $50 million at U.S. stores last year. Bryant has been part of the Nike family since 2003. The 15-time All-Star was an Adidas athlete for the first six years of his career. Bryant’s shoe sales in the U.S. were down in 2012, but he is the NBA’s biggest star in China and his Nike sneakers sell briskly in Asia. Forbes.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Sneakers 

A league source told me that despite the apparent thaw between Howard and Bryant, Dwight complained privately about Kobe late in the season. If this summer wasn’t billed as an NBA-chang event, it was because insiders were sure Paul would stay, and Howard would accept the extra $30 mill from the Lakers, however grudgingly. Lakers Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Kobe Bryant: Interesting off season looming.. Will spend time with d12 #stay and talk with the Buss family in hopes that Pau stays as well #my2cents Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Owners, Jim Buss 

Atlanta Hawks player Dahntay Jones says he feels REALLLY bad about injuring Kobe Bryant's ankle right before the NBA playoffs ... but he's adamant, he didn't do it on purpose! Jones was at LAX yesterday when he told TMZ ... even though it's only been 2 months since the controversial play, he doesn't hold a grudge against people like Ice Cube -- who called him a dirty cheater days after the play. In case you forgot, Lakers fans were calling for Dahntay's head after Kobe landed on DJ's ankle during a jump shot on March 13 -- with people saying Dahntay put his foot in Kobe's jump zone with the intention of injuring the NBA star. "I apologize once again," DJ told us ... "I wish you a speedy recovery, Kobe." TMZ.com

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries, Dahntay Jones 

While he hasn't had anything to say to the press, Dwight Howard had a lot to say to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak back before the relative silence, however. Howard was one of several Lakers -- Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol being the most noteworthy -- to have an extended separate meeting with the GM after his exit interview with both Kupchak and D'Antoni, multiple sources confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Mitch Kupchak, Mike D'Antoni, Dwight Howard 

Kobe Bryant: Really?? Me. Retire?? Soon, but not yet. Vino still has work to do #35 #OG #kbvff Twitter @kobebryant

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

During the Sports Spectacular event on Sunday night, Kobe announced (via remote video) that he was teaming up with Sports Spectacular to help eradicate homelessness. Kobe, who’s been fighting homelessness in Los Angeles along with his wife and the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Foundation, wasn’t able to be at the event (something about a torn Achilles), but was still excited to share the news. Lakers Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles, Vanessa Bryant 

Kobe Bryant: “I’d like to officially announce that we’re partnering with Sports Spectacular to help eradicate homelessness. We’re doing an event, it’s called Kobe: Up Close, and it’s about my past presence and future if you are interested. The event is August 15th at the Nokia Theater.” Lakers Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles, Vanessa Bryant 

So Hunter claims that one of the highest-compensated players and his agent called him on Oct. 27, 2011, and said a 50-50 BRI deal had been struck with ownership and Hunter should accept it. I am not certain who that player is. I have been told by two different sources it was Kobe Bryant. Bryant and Fisher share the same agent — Rob Pelinka. Bryant and Fisher are close friends; they joined the Lakers the same year. Bryant was the NBA’s highest-paid player in 2011-12, earning $25 million. Bryant spent part of the 2011 offseason in Germany receiving experimental treatment for his arthritic knee. Given his salary, advancing age, health concerns and legendary competitive zeal, no NBA player had more reason to be desperate for an end to the lockout than Bryant. FOXSports.com

Kobe Bryant, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents, Rob Pelinka 

On Friday, I made several attempts to speak with Pelinka. We’ve known each other for 20 years. He was a role player on the Michigan “Fab Five” basketball teams that I covered for the Ann Arbor News. We also occasionally run into each other in Los Angeles. I left a message at his office. I left a voicemail on his cell phone. I wrote him a detailed email explaining why I was contacting him. I also sent him a text message that my iPhone confirmed that he read. Pelinka did not respond to my inquiries. Whether it was Bryant, Garnett or some other highly compensated veteran player who contacted Hunter on Oct. 27, 2011, doesn’t really matter. (Although a court case and Hunter’s phone records will eventually reveal the callers.) The point is that during the lockout, Hunter was caught between the NBA’s elite and the rank-and-file players who actually worked in the union. FOXSports.com

Kobe Bryant, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Kevin Garnett 

Though league sources acknowledge that it would be difficult for Howard to leave LA and its off-court branding opportunities, Howard would find himself in somewhat of a dead-end in terms of the talent surrounding him with the Lakers going forward. If the Lakers re-signed Howard, even the bold move of amnestying Pau Gasol and his $19.3 million contract would leave them too far over the luxury-tax line to have access to anything beyond the taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum contracts to improve the roster. Teams that are $4 million or more above the tax line cannot use the full mid-level or bi-annual exceptions to sign free agents. Also, Kobe Bryant, 35, is coming off surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 

Jeanie Buss: @PhilJackson11 Phil, in regards to Kobe vs. MJ - KOBE IS THE BEST. My humble opinion. @kobebryant #Lakers Twitter @JeanieBuss

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Jeanie Buss 

Phil Jackson: Listen friends of bball; don’t get hung up on words. I was most fortunate to have the chance to coach two of the greatest gds. EVER MJ/Kobe. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Jeanie Buss 

Kobe Bryant: The comparisons are #apples2oranges Wonder what the perception would be if M played wit @shaq instead #differentroles #differentcareerpaths Twitter @kobebryant

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal 

Kevin Durant leads all NBA players in career commercial appearances with 63 at last count, according to standings calculated by HoopsHype. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is second with 42 and Miami's LeBron James is third with 39. In team rankings, OKC ranks third with 88 total commercials, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers with 125 and the Miami Heat with 91. Russell Westbrook is second among Thunder players with 11 commercials, followed by Serge Ibaka (six), Nick Collison, Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha (two each), Kevin Martin and Reggie Jackson (one each). Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Martin, Serge Ibaka, Thabo Sefolosha, Reggie Jackson, Commercials