Be that as it may, that’s the official reason given this afternoon for a critical absence in Orlando. The un-bylined CBS blogger speculates that this year’s NBA All-Star game top vote-getter perhaps didn’t want to deal with questions about Pau Gasol, Russell Westbrook and-or Jim Buss:

Reporters from all over the world waited for over 30 minutes until an NBA spokesperson told them he will not be coming… The players are obligated to attend the longest media session Friday, but since Kobe called in “sick” he will not be fined.

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