HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Dave McMenamin: Sources close to Kobe Bryant tell me he was blindsided by the news of his parents planning to sell his high school memorabilia. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Dave McMenamin: According to sources, Kobe has given his parents "millions of dollars in financial assistance" throughout his 17-year NBA career Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Blake Griffin needs to know if the story is true. Ever since he first heard it last July he's been obsessed with it. "The first night we all got into Las Vegas last summer for the USA Basketball camp, I heard Kobe [Bryant] went on some 40-mile bike ride at night through the desert," Griffin says. "Forty miles? At night? "You think it's true?" Before I can answer, Griffin continues: "When I found out about that bike ride, I was so tempted to ask him if I could go next time." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin 

The story Griffin heard turns out to be true. And it goes something like this: Bryant told his longtime trainer, Tim Grover, he wanted to add in bike training to his summer conditioning. Grover researched a trail in Las Vegas, rented three bikes -- one for Bryant, one for himself, and one for Bryant's security guard -- and on the night before the first day of practice, they each put on headlamps and headed out to the trail and rode. "We finished up around 2 a.m." Grover said. "And we were back in the gym working out by 7:30 in the morning." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Tim Grover 

For years, Pamela Bryant kept asking her son: Do you still want all this stuff that I'm keeping for you - your old basketball jerseys, your sports awards, your high school trophies? And for years, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Camden on Thursday, the son, now 34, was content to let it all sit around at the house. Until ... Until Pamela Bryant, Kobe Bryant's mother, wanted to auction it off for an expected $1.5 million so she could use the money to buy a house in Nevada. That's when the Los Angeles Lakers shooting star (and Lower Merion High School basketball phenomenon) put the brakes on the idea, sending a cease-and-desist letter to the auctioneer, Goldin Auctions L.L.C. of West Berlin. Philadelphia Inquirer

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

The 42 items of merchandise, which include several Lower Merion uniforms worn by the player and two 2000 Lakers Championship rings designed for his parents, were to go up for auction in June, each authenticated as genuine by Pamela Bryant. In a tale of what can happen when adult children move on but leave behind their "treasures," Goldin filed suit asking the judge to clarify ownership of the memorabilia and clear the way for the auction. "A team-issued championship ring is among the most treasured of all sports collectibles and the opportunity to own one from an active player as significant as Kobe Bryant is rare," company founder Ken Goldin said in an April 30 news release announcing the auction of the memorabilia. "Normally, items like these can only be viewed in a museum or the Hall of Fame," he said. "We are honored to be able to make these offerings to collectors around the world." Philadelphia Inquirer

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles lawyer, Mark Campbell of Loeb & Loeb L.L.P., was considerably less communicative. "Mr. Bryant's personal property has ended up in the possession of someone who does not lawfully own it," the law firm said in an e-mailed statement. "We look forward to resolving this legal matter through the legal system. There will be no further comment at this time." Philadelphia Inquirer

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Eric Pincus: Kobe on his injury to Goudelock when G-Lock rejoined the Lakers "The first thing he said to me, it's a small thing to a giant." Twitter @EricPincus

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries, Andrew Goudelock 

To all those guy around town now wearing a replica of Kobe Bryant’s Lower Merion High School basketball uniform — real ones are available. Good luck affording them, then fitting into them. Kobe’s mom, Pamela, has made available more than 100 items from his life in a June bidding frenzy to be staged by New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions. The main draw will be a maroon uniform — jersey and shorts — from his freshman year when he wore No. 24. It is believed to be the only authentic game worn #24 Kobe Bryant LMHS jersey in existence. He switched to No. 33 for the rest of his high school days before going to the NBA. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

Dave McMenamin: Kobe on Dwight re-signing: "I hope he does ... I think Los Angeles is the perfect spot for him to assert himself." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Kevin Ding: Kobe on Dwight visiting him: "I respect that and my love for him grew a lot that day." Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Eric Pincus: "I want Pau here" - what Kobe said to Kupchak in exit interview Twitter @EricPincus

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol 

Mike Bresnahan: Kobe said Lakers "could win a championship, no doubt about it" if they all came back and were all healthy. Let the debate begin... Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

Arash Markazi: Kobe isn't sure how much longer he'll play. "The Achilles kind of threw me a curve ball." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries