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Kobe Bryant talks Derek Fisher's firing, Jordan comparisons

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Retiring Lakers great Kobe Bryant is a star among stars in Toronto this weekend.Chris Young/AP

Retiring Lakers great Kobe Bryant is a star among stars in Toronto this weekend.

TORONTO – For Kobe Bryant, there was no gray area regarding Phil Jackson’s decision to fire Derek Fisher.

“They felt they needed a change so they made a change. It’s pretty black and white to me,” Bryant said. “Derek’s like a brother, always has been. But still it’s hard to be a coach somewhere and last your entire career there. He’s had a good run there and now it’s time for a change.”

It was a strange answer from Bryant considering Fisher was fired less than two years into his contract with a 40-96 record – hardly a “good run.” Bryant is stuck in an awkward position of playing under Jackson and Knicks interim coach Kurt Rambis, while winning championships in the same backcourt as Fisher.

Both the Lakers and Knicks have fallen on hard times in the NBA’s largest market, combining to win just 26 percent of their games over the last two seasons. Neither has been in the playoffs in almost three years.

But Bryant, who is retiring after this season, is the main attraction of this All-Star weekend and is always surrounded by an international media horde.

The Western Conference team stopped its practice Saturday to watch a highlight video of Bryant’s 17 previous All-Star appearances.

Bryant also met with Michael Jordan on Friday night – a moment caught on Instagram (where else?) – and recounted an amusing anecdote from a conversation of all-time greats.

Kobe Bryant says his ex-Lakers teammate Derek Fisher (l.) is like a brother to him.Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Kobe Bryant says his ex-Lakers teammate Derek Fisher (l.) is like a brother to him.

“(Myself and Jordan) always had great exchanges,” Bryant said. “The championship ring count is one that I can’t catch now. But one of my favorite memories is we were having a discussion where we were all judging dunk contests. Dominique Wilkins, Dr. J, myself, MJ. We’re all standing their talking and Dr. J says, ‘Hey man, I don’t know how you scored 81 in a game.’ And Michael kind of goes, ‘Yeah, wow (dismissive tone.’

“So finally I said to MJ, ‘The last time I played you in the NBA I had 42 at halftime.’ And that was the only barb I really got in on Michael.”

Tags:
kobe bryant ,
derek fisher ,
michael jordan ,
nba all-star game ,
nba ,
canada ,
toronto ,
los angeles lakers ,
new york knicks

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