Smush Parker Rips Lakers, Kobe Bryant

Remember Smush Parker? Besides famously being thrown off of the Miami Heat for fighting with a female valet attendant over a lousy twelve bucks, he was also the starting point guard for the Lakers during two of their worst seasons in recent memory -- 2006 and 2007.

You'd think that since Smush is now out of the NBA, he'd look back on his time playing for one of the league's most storied franchises fondly, right? Not so much. In the following interview, Parker says playing for the Lakers was "overrated," and says any problems he had with the team started and ended with Kobe Bryant.

Now of course, Parker isn't the first player to say that Bryant wasn't the best teammate or the most fun to play with. But maybe Kobe had a reason for not being super-friendly to Smush: because he's a terrible basketball player.

It's possible that Parker is just being honest here, wearing his emotions on his sleeve and telling us how he truly feels. But coming from a scrub player that's not even in the league anymore, it comes across as sour grapes more than anything else.

[via The OC Register's Lakers Blog]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-16-2009 @ 1:19PM

mcjesus666 said...

how this chump gets any media coverage is beyond me.

3-16-2009 @ 3:02PM

Michael said...

Dude, even Tyronn Lue is still in the league, which shows how much of a bum this cate is. Why does anyone care what Smush has to say??

3-16-2009 @ 3:03PM

nochickenhawk said...

First of all Mr. Pollakoff Smush Parker is not "a terrible basketball player". The Lakers are probably one of the most valuable franchises in the NBA. They are going to put "a terrible basketball player" in a starting point guard position? Phil Jackson is going to do this? Phil Jackson and Mitch Kupchak don't know talent? I don't know why in the hell Dr.Buss doesn't fire Phil and Mitch and let you handle personnel decisions for the Lakers? Why demean Parker for telling the truth? Probably because you want to be on record for kissing Kobe the prima donna's ass. This might bring some commercial value for you. The Lakers were lousy those two seasons because Bryant couldn't behave himself and selfishly drove Shaq off when they had the potential for 4,5 or 6 rings. Parker became a scapegoat for Bryant's immaturity. To the extent Parker had issues on/off the court with the Heat, he is probably paying the price for that now. But let's not gloss over the truth to kiss Kobe's ass!

3-26-2009 @ 2:19AM

nabpdcop said...

Hey HawkASSHOLE, who is your team? Can u even spell basketball? Parker was a bum with a CAPITAL B. Problem was he thought he was the man, but he wasn't. So glad he''s out of the NBA. He wouldn't make it in the DL.....lolololol

Hello Xavier said...

How he played in the league for as long as he did is beyond me.

3-16-2009 @ 5:51PM

davidsmith234 said...

Nochickenhawk, you are pathetic. I havent spoken to a Kobe hater in years but I guess this time I will. Smush was terrible for many reason but one clear reason was because of his professionalism. He is the reason the Lakers went after and got back Derek Fisher, well that and Fish's ill daughter.
You say do Mitch and Phil not know talent? Yes they do but they have made mistakes and Kwame Brown was the other. The difference is that Kwame was trying to be a good player but simply could not be, but Smush talked back to Phil during some games but being a hater I am sure dont watch all if any Laker games. I wont say that Kobe doesnt come off as a jerk at times or period but Smush was a disaster at the point. He could not shoot consistantly, blew defensive assignments, and was not disciplined in the principles of the triangle Offense. With all that said he had his best seasons of his career while playing under Kobe Bryant so his arguement as well as yours is not valid nor important. But like I said I havent talked to a hater in years and I guess now is a good time as any to give a hater some good knowledge.

3-16-2009 @ 6:42PM

John Butler said...

Smush wasn't terrible and he definately wasn't the problem with the lakers. Kobe just didn't know how to manage his team and still shine as a player. Plus the lakers were just a flawed team back then but they re-upped though. Smush is a NBA calibur player...thats a given in my opinion.

3-16-2009 @ 6:44PM

and kwame brown is the biggest flop of all time.

3-16-2009 @ 11:14PM

henryclemente said...

Parker was barely serviceable on 05-06, and really bad in 06-07 (10th on the entire team in PER). He certainly was terrible in 07-08.

3-16-2009 @ 11:40PM

gjlakersman said...

This guy is a joke.I remember reading about him in SLAM magazine.They said he's under rated.That was about 4 years ago.I bet he wishes he was in Jordan Farmar's shoes right now.

3-17-2009 @ 6:23PM

dan w netzer said...

Parker was descent during the regular season. During the play-offs when they were on the brink of stunning the Suns in the first round, he was utterly horrific. True colors shine during the play-offs.

3-18-2009 @ 12:06AM

You big stud said...

Who fights with a female valet over 12 dollars

3-18-2009 @ 11:38AM

Mike said...

I don't care how good all of you think Kobe is, I would never want to be on his team. Kobe is one guy that a good ass kickin would do wonders for. What a gloved player, all his little "get my way" life. And, in the back of all your minds, you all know he screwed that woman when she didn't want it done. You had better hope Kobe wins it all this year, cause his years are running out quick.