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"One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael's superior skills as a leader," Jackson said. "Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he'd yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had." Los Angeles Times

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

Kobe Bryant comes in at fourth on the SI list, thanks in part to his cap-destroying 27.8 million in salary last season (that jumps to $30 million next season, so expect him back on the list). He also still has $19 million in endorsements. He’s got a sweet Nike deal, too. Third among NBA players and seventh overall on the SI list is Derrick Rose. And the entire city of Chicago rolled its eyes at once. He made $16.4 million in salary and had $17 million in endorsements thanks to a massive Adidas deal. NBCSports.com

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose 

Joan Nielsen: Former Laker and new D-Fenders coach Mark Madsen on Kobe Bryant: "If they say he's going to get back in 9 months, he'll be back in 6." Twitter @JoanNiesen

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries, Mark Madsen 

Kobe Bryant and an auction house that wants to sell memorabilia from his high school days and early pro career are heading for a trial next month, unless they can work out a deal before then. U.S. District Judge Renee Bumb on Monday set June 17 as a trial date, but also set a court-guided mediation session for Friday in a case that's the manifestation of an ugly family dispute that all sides seem to want to resolve quickly. FOXSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

The main reason she didn't schedule the trial for an earlier date was that Bryant's father, Joe ''Jellybean'' Bryant, said he could not get to a trial sooner because he's coaching a Thai team in the Asian Basketball League playoffs. FOXSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law, Joe Bryant 

Mike Trudell: Mad Dog will have a chance to say hi to @Kobe Bryant, who's on site rehabilitating his Achilles with Gary Vitti/Dr. Judy Seto. Twitter @LakersReporter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries, Mark Madsen, Gary Vitti 

A family feud between basketball star Kobe Bryant and his mom has intensified with his mother claiming the Los Angeles Lakers guard has lied to block her planned sale of his memorabilia. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Pamela Bryant insists her son gave her the items, which include jerseys, trophies and rings from his high school and professional career. Kobe Bryant denies that, saying he wants to give the items to his children. In a court filing here Monday, Pamela Bryant claimed sworn statements from her son and daughter-in-law contained "many false statements." She rejected Kobe Bryant's account of a May 2 phone conversation, in which she allegedly agreed he never had told her she could have his belongings. "This conversation never occurred, and I never made that statement," Pamela Bryant said. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

The athlete's father, Joseph Bryant, and his grandmother, Mildred Cox, supported the mother's claim that Kobe Bryant had declined an opportunity to take the collectibles from his parents' home in suburban Philadelphia. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

After Kobe Bryant sent a cease-and-desist order, Goldin Auctions sued May 2 in a bid for court approval. The firm noted that it has paid a $450,000 advance to Pamela Bryant, who used it to buy a house in Las Vegas. Kobe Bryant filed his own lawsuit May 7 in California, seeking to block the sale. Bryant's sister, Sharia Washington of Las Vegas, supported her brother in a filing Saturday in the West Coast case. "I have frequently heard my mother talk about how the family can make money on items associated with Kobe," she said. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant's parents have turned their backs on their son -- claiming Kobe was LYING when he accused his mother of stealing more than a million dollars worth of his basketball memorabilia ... and putting it up for auction, TMZ has learned. Kobe's mom and dad -- Pamela and Joe -- both filed sworn declarations in the legal dispute between Kobe and Goldin Auctions, the auction house planning to sell off the valuable stuff ... insisting Kobe willingly gave his mother the items in question ... and it's her right to sell them. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

According to Kobe's dad, Kobe gave his mother the memorabilia over the years, telling her, "Here mom, these are for you." Kobe's mom insists she never took anything from him without permission. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

A judge just gave Kobe Bryant a reprieve from his mother's attempt to sell his memorabilia ... by shutting down the sale ... at least for now. TMZ has learned a judge issued a temporary restraining order against Goldin Auctions, prohibiting them from selling Kobe's jerseys, championship rings, trophies, and lots of other stuff until a full hearing can be held next Monday. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant says in a court filing that he never gave his mother permission to sell mementos from his high school days and early professional basketball career. Bryant is in a court battle over whether hundreds of items can be auctioned off. Pamela Bryant says the NBA star told her the memorabilia was hers. She arranged earlier this year to auction it off through Berlin, N.J.-based Goldin Auctions and received a $450,000 advance. Last week, lawyers for the NBA star wrote to the auction house demanding it cease the June sale. Goldin is suing to assert its right to sell. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Jeff Zillgitt: MVP in order: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, James Harden, Russell Westbrook Twitter @JeffZillgitt

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Tim Duncan 

Sources connected with the Bryant family tell TMZ ... the dispute between mother and son erupted over real estate. We're told Kobe offered to buy his parents a "nice house" in Vegas for significantly less than a million bucks, but they wanted something bigger and more extravagant and Kobe drew a line in the sand and refused to up the ante. Our sources say Pamela was infuriated and believed Kobe was shortchanging them, especially compared to what he does for Vanessa's mom, Sofia Laine. Kobe put Sofia up in a $3.2 million house in Newport Beach, CA, which sold recently. After the sale, Kobe moved Sofia to another multi-million dollar mansion nearby. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law, Real Estate 

From Kobe's perspective, our sources say he's really upset because he believes he's stepped up for years, by giving his parents millions of dollars. This feud has been brewing for years ... dating back to when Kobe's parents went ballistic when he married Vanessa without a prenup. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law, Real Estate 

Kobe Bryant is in a court battle to try to keep his mother from auctioning off mementos from his high school days in Pennsylvania and his early years with the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

According to court filings, Pamela Bryant struck a deal in January with Goldin Auctions in Berlin, N.J., which earlier this year sold a rare Honus Wagner baseball card for a record $2.1 million. She got $450,000 up front, which she intended to use for a new home in Nevada. A source told ESPN that Kobe Bryant offered to pay his mother up $250,000 toward a home she wanted. She refused, saying she wanted $450,000. When Kobe Bryant turned her down, the source said that unbeknownst to Kobe Bryant she struck a deal to get the $450,000 advanced through the auction company. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant's lawyer Mark Campbell said in a statement, "Mr. Bryant's personal property has ended up in the possession of someone who does not lawfully own it. We look forward to resolving this legal matter through the legal system." Bryant has had a sometimes icy relationship with his mother and father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, a former pro basketball player who is now coaching in Thailand. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law