Links: NBA Friday
It’s that time again, when we get a little gift from the Official Illustrator of The Links, Joel Kimmel.
“Kobe Bryant, you love him or you hate him, or maybe you sort of like him and hate him at the same time (like me),” writes Joel. “There are those games where he doesn’t shoot in the first half to prove a point that he can pass, or the games where he’ll score and get accused of not passing. There are the Michael Jordan comparisons and instances in games where it almost seems like he’s thinking, ‘What would MJ do?’ He has a flair for the dramatic, and sometimes it almost appears forced. But despite all of these things, he is a lethal scorer and the League’s best player.
“The snakes on the left of the painting represent the Kobe Bryant everyone appreciates. The lethal scorer, the competitor and the winner. The nickname he gave himself, Black Mamba, is appropriate and works in his favor. On the other side, the venomous black mambas turn on Kobe, threatening to bite. These snakes represent the negativity towards Kobe, much of which is brought on by his own behavior. He relates himself to a black mamba and it turns on him.
“In the middle there is a black and red snake, representing the Michael Jordan comparisons that have followed him his whole career. He’s been snakebitten with the curse of being the next MJ, and even if he succeeds in that, people will look upon him negatively.
“The other painting, with two small Kobes, shows the same idea. The Kobe on the left is aided by the mamba persona that drives him to the basket with deadly force. On the right, his mambas pull him down, while a predator bird grabs a snake in its mouth.
“I’ve made prints of this piece available in my shop. I think that’s it. Kobe’s a complicated dude.”
46 Responses to “Links: NBA Friday”
Jul.18 at 12:27 pm
Krishan says:
pen*s eat it hursty
Jul.18 at 12:27 pm
James The Balla says:
first for my boy Kobe!!!
Jul.18 at 12:28 pm
James The Balla says:
ahhh you fu*ker lol
Jul.18 at 12:31 pm
Mo Charlo says:
I’m pretty happy that the “p*nis” instead of “first” trend has caught on.
Jul.18 at 12:41 pm
TADOne says:
You really put alot of thought into that Joel. Nice work.
Jul.18 at 12:41 pm
Nick says:
yeah, it causes a burning sensation.
Jul.18 at 12:43 pm
Keith says:
Joel - great work. The thought that went into the first one was incredible. Bravo my good man, bravo!
Jul.18 at 1:02 pm
TADOne says:
Holly should be along shortly to order about 5.
Jul.18 at 1:05 pm
blackjack says:
Those are cool, I was hoping for Luke Walton though
Jul.18 at 1:19 pm
B. Long says:
Nice.
Jul.18 at 1:27 pm
Dallas J says:
..damn.. this one is deep
Jul.18 at 1:31 pm
Mooks says:
Really cool work, Joel, but what’s with the goofy Star Trek-inspired shirt Kobe’s wearing?
Jul.18 at 1:33 pm
Michael says:
first his interviews were forced now his skill.
Jul.18 at 1:46 pm
Paps says:
Good control of the medium. But doesn’t quite look like him. I’m happy to see that you are using action and motion in your work now.
Jul.18 at 1:46 pm
DP says:
I need this in my life…Joel you are the truth.
Jul.18 at 2:04 pm
B. Long says:
@Mooks: You’ve obviously never seen Kobe’s line with Nike, have you?
Jul.18 at 2:06 pm
B. Long says:
@Joel: When I click on the link to your shop it’s giving me an error message on the Slam site. What’s the link?
Jul.18 at 2:08 pm
Joel Kimmel says:
Hey thanks everyone, glad you like it!
@B.Long: The link is www.joelkimmel.etsy.com.
Jul.18 at 2:12 pm
Bruno says:
all the explanation is ok but it looks like eddie jones when he played with kobe
Jul.18 at 2:13 pm
B. Long says:
Thanks, I’m trying to find the action shots? Can we just buy one of those?
Jul.18 at 2:13 pm
Bruno says:
I like the two small kobes
Jul.18 at 2:17 pm
Joel Kimmel says:
@B.Long: I’m adding the action shots to the shop now, they should be up in a few minutes.
Jul.18 at 2:21 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
MJ’s snake is actually much bigg—uh, never mind.
Jul.18 at 2:22 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
^^ Comment 23. I rule.
Jul.18 at 2:39 pm
Rasheedionics says:
I just purchased this Kobe poster. $25 is kind of steep but I want to show the support to the artist.
Jul.18 at 3:21 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
great work joel. apparently penis is the new first. zzzzz
Jul.18 at 4:07 pm
Ryne Nelson says:
Joel, is the predator in the second photo an (Atlanta) Hawk?
Jul.18 at 4:08 pm
eyehatedirk says:
I was going to buy this but instead purchased the “Kobe Tell Me How My A$$ Taste” shirt from Karmaloop.
Jul.18 at 4:14 pm
Bigi says:
Lovin’ It!
Jul.18 at 4:16 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i like your second comment, Russ. and Great work Joel. not to nitpick but if the red/black snake represents the MJ comparison, it should be behind Kobe and casting a big shadow. because really, kobe’s whole career has been scrutinized against MJ’s. (i try not to do that but i’m guilty of that also.)
Jul.18 at 4:18 pm
d.Y. says:
Dope piece Joel, but I was hoping for one of Myles’ suggestions. Welcome back Tarzan, should I make the ad joke about you catching up on your zzzz’s?
Jul.18 at 4:19 pm
Talented says:
Skills bro
Jul.18 at 4:21 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i just checked out the “ass taste” tshirt at karmaloop, and it’s too tame/lame. it’s just the phrase in block letters. c’mon put shaq’s face flashing a victory sign or something.
Jul.18 at 4:51 pm
Joel Kimmel says:
@Ryne: It’s called a secretary bird, which is an African bird that supposedly really eats black mambas!
Jul.18 at 5:21 pm
BOB says:
the ball on the left picture below looks way too smal
Jul.18 at 6:48 pm
Gerard Himself says:
awesome drawings Joel. Damn.
Jul.18 at 6:48 pm
Joel Kimmel says:
@Rasheedionics: Thanks man, you won’t be disappointed.
Jul.18 at 7:03 pm
AK47 says:
brotha got skillz. Wicked Job. Lovin the details of the shadows and the tree limbs.
Jul.18 at 7:32 pm
rudy hehme says:
Yo Joel! I really like all of your paintings, but I would like to see J.R. Smith and/or Melo painting. There’s lots of things u can paint about them…u know what i mean.
Jul.18 at 9:43 pm
davidR says:
great concept and compositions. the kobe in the second action pic looks like horace grant though?
Jul.18 at 9:48 pm
Chief says:
The idea is good but the painting’s don’t seem to deliver the message for me. Maybe close up. I dunno. Everyone knows Carmelo is better…
Jul.19 at 12:28 am
Jose says:
thats cool.i’d like it better if it werent kobe but its drawn grat.i try to draw to but i have no imagination to it.i need to look at what i draw u dont.thats what i wanna do.
Jul.19 at 1:00 am
Hursty says:
43rd. PEN*S! Krishan.
Jul.19 at 4:28 am
Kevin says:
soooo dope. i love this piece..
Jul.19 at 7:23 pm
Moose says:
anyone else hear the rumor that a vote might keep the sonics in seattle?
Jul.20 at 11:20 pm
Matt Jaworski says:
In the middle there is a black and red snake, representing the Michael Jordan comparisons that have followed him his whole career. He’s been snakebitten with the curse of being the next MJ, and even if he succeeds in that, people will look upon him negatively.