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Jeanie Buss Defends Kobe Bryant

Lakers president irate about ESPN article on five-time champion.

(Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss read ESPN's critical article about Kobe Bryant and she doesn't agree with any of it.

She especially scoffs at the notion that high-profile free agents were afraid to play with the Black Mamba because of his reputation as a tough teammate to get along with.

"Any free agent that would be afraid to play with Kobe Bryant is probably a loser, and I'm glad they wouldn't come to the team," Buss said during an ESPN SportsCenter interview Thursday. 

Buss was also irate about the article, which included comments from "Lakers insiders," who said that the franchise is unable to lure free agents because of Bryant, even vowing to find who said what and fire them. 

"I read the story. I don't agree with any of it. If there is somebody that's on our payroll who is saying things like that, I'll soon get to the bottom of it, and they won't be working for us anymore," Buss continued.

She added that that Lakers made a serious play for Carmelo Anthony, but understands why he chose to remain a member of the New York Knicks, writing off the article's suggestion that he stayed away from Los Angeles because of Bryant.

After learning of the article, which ESPN released Monday, Bryant essentially shook it off, citing it as a part of the media's cycle of positive and negative coverage.

Bryant and the Lakers will face the Los Angeles Clippers in their final pre-season game Friday night, before officially opening their 2014-15 season at home against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Watch Kevin Hart in a new episode of Real Husbands of Hollywood every Tuesday, 10P/9C.

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