Brown mentioned that Bryant is an unbelievable athlete, he also said that Kobe “threw Shaq under the bus” and “is somewhat confused about culture because he was brought up in another country. So he doesn’t quite fit what’s happening in America.”

Bryant spent part of his childhood growing up in Italy, where his father played professional basketball.

"I think no matter where you come from, whether you come from Italy, whether you come from Inglewood (Calif.), whether you come from London, it doesn't matter,” Bryant told ESPN.com. “Ultimately, the conversation is that it doesn't matter what color skin you are to begin with. But, I think it's a good place to start to have a good conversation and try to educate one another and try to improve as a society from it."

Bryant then took it a step further on Twitter:

"A 'Global' African American is an inferior shade to 'American' African Americans?? #hmm.. that doesn't sound very #Mandela or #DrKing sir" — Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant)

Then he addressed that tweet to ESPN.com.

"If it's a major issue that involves a quality or a perception of racial quality, I feel like that's something that's a big enough message that needs to be addressed," Bryant said. "Obviously it's a sensitive topic for everybody, but I think the best thing to do is not dance around it but to go at it with a full head of steam and generate conversation about it. So, that's how I try to measure it."

Bryant said he has no plans to talk with Brown to clear the air. And Brown made it fairly clear that he wouldn’t be calling Kobe anytime soon.


DOLAN NIXED LOWRY TRADE


The struggling Knicks are desperate for help — especially at the point guard position, and New York had recently reached an agreement with the Raptors to acquire starting point guard Kyle Lowry in a trade.

But that was before Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan pulled a David Stern and nixed the deal, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports.

“There are two problems,” the source told the Daily News. “Dolan didn’t like that someone from his group leaked it to the media, and the other problem is the Knicks seem to have too many (people) involved with making decisions.”

The Knicks were willing to trade away injured PG Raymond Felton, along with forward Metta World Peace and either Iman Shumpert, Tim Hardaway Jr. or a 2018 first-round draft pick, according to multiple reports. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri wanted the first-round pick, but Dolan reportedly got cold feet and was hesitant to trade away a future asset.

Ujiri was the GM of the Denver Nuggets when he and Dolan negotiated the Carmelo Anthony trade, which hasn't quite worked out well for New York. And as one source told the Daily News, “Dolan didn’t want to get fleeced again by Masai.”

The Knicks may still reconsider, according to the report, and it may not be a bad idea given the team's struggles.

Lowry, a probable defensive improvement over Felton, is also averaging a career-high 14.6 points per game with Toronto to go along with 6.7 assists — another career high. More important, Lowry's expiring contract keeps any Rajon Rondo-to-Knicks possibilities open.


ODOM'S LOVE LIFE


Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian-Odom are calling it quits after four years of marriage, TMZ says.

Kardashian-Odom is expected to file the legal documents on Friday, citing the couple's "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their impending separation.

Last month, a video surfaced of Odom rapping and bragging about cheating on his wife with another woman.

The video came on the heels of reports that Odom was addicted to crack cocaine and an arrest on a DUI charge.

According to TMZ's report, a pre-nuptual agreement kept the couple's assets separate, which should expedite the legal process.

The couple got married in September of 2009.


WARRIORS' O'NEAL DOWN, NOT OUT


Golden State Warriors backup center Jermaine O'Neal has undergone arthroscopic surgery for a torn ligament in his right wrist.

The Warriors said Dr. Jeff Yao operated Friday at the Stanford Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Clinic. The team gave no timetable for his return.

O'Neal wrote on Twitter: "I am NOT out for the season contrary to some of the media reports."

The 35-year-old is in his 18th NBA season and has had previous knee and wrist operations. He has appeared in 17 games this season, averaging 6.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 18.6 minutes.

O'Neal is the third center behind starter Andrew Bogut to have surgery this year.

Festus Ezeli is expected to be out until at least late January following right knee surgery. Ognjen Kuzmic will be sidelined at least another four weeks after fracturing a bone in his right hand.


BULLS ADD AUGUSTIN


The Chicago Bulls say they have agreed to a contract with guard D.J. Augustin.

Taken with the ninth pick in the 2008 draft by the Charlotte Bobcats, he has averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 assists for the Bobcats, Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors. He appeared in 10 games this year with the Raptors and averaged 2.1 points and 1.0 assists.

The Bulls announced the move on Friday.

Contributors: Tadd Haislop, Kami Mattioli, The Associated Press