NBA Reportedly Investigating Another Kobe Elbow

This past Friday night, during a Lakers-Sixers game in Philly, Kobe Bryant struck Sixers sharpshooter Kyle Korver with an elbow as the first half came to a close, and according to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News, he might be facing suspension for the third time this season.

I didn't see the game, and the incident wasn't shown on the highlights, but according to Korver, it really wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

"I didn't think it was that big a deal," Korver told the Associated Press on Saturday. I thought it was an offensive foul. After I saw it on replay, it looked a lot worse than I thought it was during the game. It all happens fast. It's no big deal. It's just part of the game."

Personally, I don't think it would make much sense for the NBA to slap Kobe with another one game suspension; if the first two didn't teach him anything, the penalty has to be more severe this time around.

Update: The NBA has decided to retroactively assess Kobe Bryant with a flagrant foul for the elbow. It's his first of the year. I caught the highlight on television a few minutes ago; Kobe was coming off a screen with Korver trailing the play, and he seemed to get his hand tangled up. As he attempted to free himself, he struck Korver in the face with the elbow.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-13-2007 @ 2:44AM

Tom said...

here we go again, if the refs would call the fouls correctly this would not be happening. Kobe gets fouled so often but its not called. I understand how Kobe can react to being fouled with swinging his hands to ward off the defender because they are allowed to touch, push, grab and do whatever they want when deffending Kobe. The league is trying to make a statement to change the perception of why they don't call fouls opn defenders of Kobe. How many times doe she get knocked to the floor on drives and no calls are made, now if his name was Wade, it might be different. Bottom line!! Stern and Jackson (Stu) need to go. basketball can be repaired if these two idiots were gone.

3-13-2007 @ 2:09PM

DM said...

Tom, have you even seen the video? Those blocks by Manu and Jaric were clean blocks. Kobe swung his arms so he could get the ball back after getting blocked. I know he did not hurt them intentionally, but rules are rules. He deserved that suspension, he needs to change his method of trying to draw fouls or we'll see more black eyes from him soon. If this had happened to him, I mean if his(kobe's) face was in the receiving end of somebody's flailing arm , you'd be upset too. Luckily, no one in the league does that other than Kobe.

3-14-2007 @ 5:54PM

lsg said...

Kobe's actions should be dealt with as any other player would be in committing flagrant fouls. It is obvious that one game suspensions don't get his attention. Here's a link to a site that finds an interesting trend involving run-ins with Kobe...http://timeforchange.typepad.com/lilsurfergirl/2007/03/is_kobe_bryant_.html