Kobe Bryant Identifies With J.K. Simmons' Character From "Whiplash," Is Very Unimpressed With Lakers Teammates

Kobe Bryant appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday. Kimmel took the opportunity to show Kobe video of Jeremy Lin, Nick Young, Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer celebrating beating the Celtics on Sunday. (Skip to the 1:30 mark) Kobe’s reaction is absolutely priceless. From this image…

… to his refusal to say anything about the video. It is all so perfectly Kobe. (I think it is safe to say that Kobe Bryant would agree with the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness.) And he’s not wrong. The Lakers had lost 8-straight and their big win came against the Boston Celtics. It’s a relief to win, but act like you’ve been there before. Just a bit. I mean, the Lakers had won 13 other games this year.

Kimmel eventually gets Kobe to talk again by bringing up Whiplash. If you haven’t seen it, go do that right now. Seriously, we’ll wait here. Whiplash is a movie that deals with the extreme measures people have to take to be great or bring out someone’s greatness. It’s great. Just like Kobe politely implying that he would throw a cymbal at a teammates’ head if it meant winning.