Jeremy Lin vs. Kobe Bryant: Lakers Star Unaware Of Linsanity (VIDEO)

Since second-year point guard Jeremy Lin cracked the Knicks' rotation three games ago, New York has reeled off three wins and Lin has thrown down one dunk.

Over that span, Lin has racked up 76 points, 25 assists and about approximately 2,562 puns. Thanks to his explosive output, the Harvard grad has gone from being one of the NBA's most unheralded bench warmers to a player that everyone has an opinion on. And, how couldn't you? He's all over Twitter. He's all over SportsCenter. Linsanity is everywhere..

Except for the Los Angeles Lakers' locker room. Speaking to reporters after his team's overtime victory over the Boston Celtics, five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant was asked if he has been following the Lin story.

"No idea, I know who he is, but I don't really know what's going on with that," he said, before laughing when a reporter compared Lin to Bryant when he was 18 years old. "I don't even know what he has done. I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I'll take a look at it tonight though."

Even though he insisted he hadn't been caught up with the Lin headlines, reporters kept asking about the toast of New York. Ben Rohrbach at WEEI's Green Street transcribed Bryant's response:

"I don't even know what the [expletive] is going on. What the [expletive] is going on? Who is this kid? I've heard about him and stuff like that, but what's he been doing? Is he getting like triple doubles or some [expletive]? He's averaging 28 and eight? No [expletive]. If he's playing well, I'll just have to deal with him."

It's always a spectacle when any other superstar plays at the Garden, but on Friday night, Bryant is certainly in store for a different kind of show. Even if Lin doesn't perform like he has in the last three games, Bryant will certainly know the name "Jeremy Lin" once he hears it from the Knicks crowd.

With that said, it's doubtful that Kobe actually cares about anything but getting the win.

Comments

[Intelligentia]

09:47 AM on 02/12/2012

What is "Linsanity?" No wonder Kobe did not know what the heck they were talking about. Maybe, they should have stayed with the guy's real name: "Lin."

[sirdigby727]

03:57 PM on 02/11/2012

Well if you don't know, now you know Kobe.

[msrayne]

03:54 PM on 02/11/2012

I love the Lakers! However, come on Kobe...don't sit there & act as if you don't know about Lin. We all know as you stated b4, that you study your opponents & the opposing team b4 each game. We all know you're a liar though...

[Christopher Mobley]

10:16 AM on 02/11/2012

May and June. That's what REALLY matters in the NBA. May and June. I'm sure that's what Kobe's thinking also. Nice night, but a mere footnote compared to Showtime.

[plansmaker]

02:49 PM on 02/11/2012

No, its not just a nice night...Its a winning streak that Lakers only dreams.
Its showtime alright...for Knicks and J Lin.

[Christopher Mobley]

08:21 AM on 02/18/2012

Like I said, "May and June". That's my NBA focus and judgment, not anything going on in a regular season.

[JuniorBug]

07:57 AM on 02/11/2012

Oh, he'll just have to deal with him? Reminds me of the time Mr. Bryant said of Manu Ginobili, "he can't stop me!" before Manu Ginobili proceeded to stop him.

[Intelligentia]

12:55 PM on 02/11/2012

Has your standard of merits changed? It thought it's Championship rings. When you talk to Mr. Bryant, you should talk to him with great difference! It's easy to carry a microphone and run mouth about what someone else will do. Championship rings is your standard of merit; don't switch it. Kobe Bryant has played many geart NBA players. It will take more than media hype to make an imprint in the NBA! Mr. Lin knows it but the mouth-work people do not.

[calisel99]

01:23 PM on 02/11/2012

intelligentia wow what a misnomer

[JuniorBug]

03:18 PM on 02/11/2012

I just think that, at this point in his career, Kobe Bryant can finally afford to be gracious to his opponents, but even at the peak of his profession he's still the definition of a sore winner. It's childish.

[HarlemFreeThought]

05:32 AM on 02/11/2012

Gold watch time Kobe, time for the rocking chair

[Oni]

02:48 AM on 02/11/2012

JLin: Can you hear me now!?

[libluv235]

02:00 AM on 02/11/2012

Classic Kobe. Interested only in himself.

[glpur1]

01:46 AM on 02/11/2012

Jeez! A Harvard grad who is both eloquent and doesn't rely on using 10 gutter words per sentence! What's the sports world coming to? I might start watching basketball again (as a Clevelander I gave that up when Princess James embarrassed himself and a great city and elevated himself to one iof the most despised individuals in pro sports).

[Stew118]

01:36 AM on 02/11/2012

It is special to score 30+ but to do it within a team basketball context where you are looking to involve your teammates (without their two best players by the way) is pretty remarkable. Keep Linning baby!!

[liyah623]

01:17 AM on 02/11/2012

He wont forget him now thats for sure

[Evanescence II]

01:02 AM on 02/11/2012

OUCH! How'd THAT FEEL KOBE? You know who he is NOW dontcha!

[jstjoe]

12:49 AM on 02/11/2012

Who is he ? He was one of the bailiffs at the arraignment for your rape charge , Kobe ! :) ... just kidding , he wasn't there when you were getting arraigned on a rape charge, Kobe.

[socalcde]

01:31 AM on 02/11/2012

Charge dropped.

[jstjoe]

01:18 PM on 02/11/2012

... and 4 million dollars spent on a ring for his WIFE who had to be humiliated on national television as the details of her husbands affair/rape with/of some other women was paraded for all to see. Yeah, he's a gem.

[kubisiak5]

12:18 AM on 02/11/2012

U know who he is now Mr Bryant. Arrogant $&$!

[plansmaker]

12:57 AM on 02/11/2012

Kobe knows who Jeremy Lin is. He just pretend he doesn't because his huge ego...
Now, Kobe Bryant have to eat some humble pie for diner tonight...38 pts by Lin torched the Lakers and Kobe's rear...

[Intelligentia]

01:03 PM on 02/11/2012

No, Kobe is not supposed to know Lin until Lin proves himself. In the NBA, it takes more than one game, even one season, to establish yourself. Lin should know Kobe, because Kobe has won numerous championships and the "FRANCHISE PLAYER" of his team. Moreover, until now, who has heard of Lin? Have you? So, I'm not sure why it will be surprising to any of you that Kobe does not know Lin. Lin is not the franchise player of New York. He may well be in the future, if he remains consistent. Now, based on what he did in the game, Kobe now knows who he is, but he is still not in the same league as Kobe until he can lead his team to a Championship. Is that not how your standard of merit is: Championship Rings?

[KingGlorious]

11:59 PM on 02/10/2012

Lin is a very exciting player.... He is a very productive player.... He is a very good player....

He is Linsational !

[Amalek]

12:57 AM on 02/11/2012

Like Tebow, he is cheating, using divine intervention.   The league needs to step in and tell Jesus to stop rigging the game.