Kobe has an odd habit of calling people “kids” when the are either older or not that much younger than him. Kobe is 33 it isn’t like he is Bill Russell dropping knowledge.
He came to the defense of those who have been critical of the King of South Beach, here is what Bean had to say.
“I think people need to lay off that kid, that’s what I think. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well playing on the Olympic team, and I think they just need to back up off him and just let him play and let him live his life. Let him make his decisions, let him mature as a player.
“It’s tough to be under a microscope like that all the time. So I would like everyone to just back off him and let him play.”
In general what Kobe is saying is correct, there is a fine line between fair criticism of Lebron’s play and just over the top reactions because you don’t like how he did “The Decision” or you aren’t a fan of the Miami Heat.
Lebron brought a lot of the negative attention on himself, but some of it was unwarranted.
Why is Kobe saying this?
It is an old Michael Jordan trick to befriend your enemies in non combat situations so they are less likely to go for your throat in combat situations.
Kobe isn’t dumb he knows the Heat are a big threat to him getting his 6th ring, so any small mental edge he can get he is going to take.