While there are some valid point in the idea of having Kobe coming off the bench, it just isn't happening. Like the very same article says, Kobe wouldn't like it one bit, and neither the fans. Every single advantage can be managed by starting Kobe and just managing his minutes. You can perfectly have him as a starter, but with minutes a 6th man would have (and obviously finishing games... hopefully fresh). Also, I don't have proof here right now, but even Kobe himself has talked about the possibility of being a small forward. It wouldn't be anything "sudden" at all. And while Kobe won't be 2006 Kobe or even close, he will still be a fantastic player. He's not that bad that he can't play against the best. We don't need him in a Jamal Crawford role or something like that. He's still way too good for that. We just need to manage his minutes, his stamina, better. That's all. There's not really much more to it than that.
Agreed. If Byron starts Clarkson and Russell, you'll have 3 initiators and possibly 4 with Randle. All of these guys can create their own shot, run pick in roll, isolate, spot up, and cut to the hoop. Kobe doesn't have to handle the ball a lot of the time. I'd like to see more off ball action where he's moving without the ball, cutting to the hoop, and put in a position to score. He was also great facilitating last year. Although, I want less of that, I still think he could do it effectively just not as much.
Kobe off the bench is an awful, awful idea. Just terrible for so very many reasons. First of all of course being money. Second being pride both for the player and the team... Third being... Kobe is the NBA's THIRD ALL TIME LEADING SCORER. I'm not going to sit him for a 2nd Round pick and a Rookie. I don't care if that rookie is Magic Johnson and that 2nd Round pick is Rodman, I'm not sitting Kobe freaking Bryant. We don't even know if Russell and Clarkson will be able to coexist yet as a duo, let alone score, let alone distribute, and let alone do either of those things at not just an NBA-proficient level, but a CHAMPIONSHIP level. I think they WILL, but not next year. You know who we already know can score the ball and carry a decent team? Kobe Bryant. We've seen 0 minutes out of Russell, Clarkson was great on literally the worst LA Laker team of all time, and Randle played all of 14 minutes in the NBA. How about instead of giving them reins before we know what they can do, we let Kobe do some work and bring these kids along with at least one high level professional athlete. A lot of Kobe's inefficiency came from (let's be honest) bad decision making, but that's partly because of the God awful team he had around him. I believe in Russell and Clarkson, but let's let them make Kobe's life easier before we just bury him. The guy brought us 5 rings and 7 Finals appearances for goodness sake. Arguing that Iguodala and Lee came off the bench so Kobe should is asinine. Why don't we wait and see if Russell and Randle can play before we start kicking Kobe off the team?
"Friends come and go, but banners hang forever" One more to the list of legendary quotes by Kobe Bryant.
Speaking purely from a technical standpoint, Kobe, at this point in his career, can't be a bench player. He's not a streaky shooter (he plays more in the post these days), a hustle guy, or a speedy guard who can change the pace of the game.
That's a fan post, it's not written by an SS&R staff member. And yeah, Kobe isn't coming off the bench. He might slide to SF, but that's it.
Kobe cannot come off the bench, for the same reason Derek Fisher could never come off the bench even if deserved. His legs are too damn old, you don't sit the old man just after he's warmed up for his legs and knees to stiffen, you send him out immediately. Love the Mamba, but it's true. And aside from that, come on, it's Kobe Bryant, he's never coming off the bench, just like Michael Jordan never came off the bench, just can't have it, he'd retire before it came to that.
One on one with Yoda and the young Jedi..... Kobe Bryant discusses what he wants to teach D'Angelo Russell By Drew Garrison @DrewGarrisonSBN on Jun 27, 2015, 7:21p 23 Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The art of understanding "why" is lost, but Kobe Bryant wants to make sure his newest pupil is ready to ask the right questions. TWEET (39) SHARE (61) PIN Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant sat down with ESPN's Jemele Hill during BET's Genius Talks in Downtown LA for a livestreamed interview. Throughout the engaging interview Kobe was his unfiltered self, telling anecdotes about his past, personal life and more. Hill came around to the direction of the Lakers as the move forward following the draft and asked Kobe what he hopes to teach D'Angelo Russell as he begins his NBA career. "The biggest thing for a young player now is to ask why," Bryant said. Kobe went on to elaborate his thought, expressing concern about players being told what to do and how to do it without understanding why it's happening. Instead, he hopes to get Russell and any young talent around him "thinking about why things happen." What good is knowing a simple task but not understanding the process that makes it work? That's the key, at least in Kobe's view. This is an interesting detail, especially when considering Julius Randle spent time watching film with Kobe while they were both rehabilitating injuries during the season. The Black Mamba won't always be there to direct these up-and-coming players, but if he can impart the knowledge of understanding that why, his impact with them could be invaluable well beyond his playing days. Perhaps Kobe has already started oiling the gears of Randle's mind, which is a happy thought for a rebuilding Lakers team. Russell has the natural talent and feel for the game and already expressed his desire to learn from the five-time NBA champion. If he can soak in whatever it is that Bryant has to lay down for his young padawan before he makes his exit, that could be a huge boost in his development and for the Lakers. http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/6/27/8858009/kobe-bryant-la-lakers-dangelo-russell
Video: Kobe explains forgiving Larry Nance Jr. for the Tweet http://www.bet.com/video/bet-experience/2015/exclusives/kobe-bryant-genius-talks-highlight.html
Stephen A on SC: Kobe's excited (they've spoken a few times over the past 3 weeks). He likes Russell and the direction the FO is heading. There are 5-6 ways they can go in FA, Kobe's on the same page as them and on board with all of them. Stephen A followed up by saying that he ( SAS) will believe it when he sees it though, there's a lot Jim Buss can foul up between now and July 9th.
Kobe said Jim Buss can foul it up or Stephen A said it? Doesn't seem like Kobe would buck the company line right now.
Just reread my post, yeah that wasn't clear. Stephen A said that about Buss. He's very opinionated on Jimmy and nearly every time a Lakers topic comes up on First Take, he'll bring Jim up.
