Shaq and Kobe

Phil Jackson, coach of the three-time champion L.A. Lakers until this past summer, has written a new book that is basically his diary from this past year. It has a lot of interesting comments about Shaq and Kobe over the past year as Kobe dealt with a rape trial in Colorado and the Lakers were eventually beaten by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.

"He's the toughest guy I've ever had to coach," Jackson said then. "He just doesn't listen."

There were times, Jackson writes, when O'Neal didn't listen, either.

"Ask Shaq to do something and he'll say, `No, I don't want to do that.' But after a little pouting, he will do it. Ask Kobe and he'll say, `OK,' and then he will do whatever he wants." Source

Reminds me of Jesus' parable of two sons from Matthew 21:28-32. The father asked the first son to work in the vineyard one day. The son refused but then later decided to go ahead and work. The father then asked the second son the same thing. The son said that he would but then did not go to work.

Jesus asked which of the sons was obediant and the people in the temple courts answered that it was the first son. Jesus explained that God wants obediance more than a useless but ready answer. He said that the prostitutes and tax collectors will enter the Kingdom of God through faith and repentance while others that have the right words would not because of the lack of real action to repent and follow Christ.

I guess one of the best NBA basketball coaches of all time prefers results to words as well.