In anticipation of Monday's preseason game between the Lakers and Sonics, Kobe Bryant reportedly called Ray Allen and said, "I'm gonna bust your ass."
Allen denies receiving this call, which was confirmed by a Laker source.
When asked about it, Bryant said, "Don't even put me and dude in the same breath."
"I hope he plays me hard," Allen said. "I would like to think that he's been doing that already because when I play against him, I go hard at him whether it was something that's been said in the newspaper or whatever.
"That mentality doesn't change. I know it doesn't for me, and I'm quite sure he feels the same. But if he's extra motivated then he should know that I don't care what goes on in L.A. I could(n't) care less. ... My focus is on this team right here."
With the war of words continuing, this meaningless preseason game has the look and feel of an October game between the Red Sox and Yankees.