Kobe's Summer Vacation

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers have gone down a rocky path of late, and a permanent separation could be in the cards (perhaps by the time you read this). SI retraces the Kobester's footsteps over the last five months, taking his happiness temperature along the way

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MOOD METER

HAPPY

NOT HAPPY

MAY 30
Three hours later, in an interview on ESPN Radio with Dan Patrick, Kobe says he wants to remain a Laker for the rest of his career. Apparently, he misquoted himself earlier or couldn't hear what he was saying over Stephen A.'s voice.

MAY 30
In an interview on NPR with Stephen A. Smith--just kidding about NPR; it was actually 1050 ESPN Radio in New York--Kobe says that the Lakers have not gotten him nearly enough help on the court and that he wants to be traded.

MAY 30
Another five hours later, upon being questioned by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, Kobe says never mind what he said to Patrick, what he said to Smith is what's real. Kobe is clearly angling for a best-of-five, but it's getting late.

JUNE 15
Kobe meets with Lakers owner Jerry Buss in Barcelona: Kobe is there on vacation; Jerry flies in from China. Much to Buss's disappointment, Kobe reiterates his desire for a trade. They have the paella, however, and it's to die for.

JUNE 17
Amateur video footage shot in late May in a SoCal mall parking lot surfaces showing Kobe trashing young teammate Andrew Bynum and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. Kobe decries modern technology in a massive text message sent to one billion of his biggest fans around the world.

JUNE 22
Kobe meets with Kupchak at the team offices. Afterward, neither comments on the specifics of their conversation, but it's believed the G.M. advised Kobe to switch to Verizon.