Kobe Bryant had expressed his frustration with his knee healing slowly before. He also had said he planned to bring the Lakers back to their old selves next season.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise that on the day it was made official he is out for the season Kobe sounded frustrated, said he plans to lead the Lakers back next season and called out the Lakers front office to make some moves.
Byant spoke to the media less than an hour after it became official that the Lakers were shutting him down for the season. Mike Trudell of lakers.com quoted Kobe on his frustration.
Kobe: "You're disappointed, you want to get out there and play and perform." But said he understands it's nonsensical to push it.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 12, 2014
Bryant on the knee: "It feels all right. Still a ways to go ... I've stepped up the intensity." He's moved from the bike to the elliptical.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 12, 2014
Kobe on dealing with the injuries and this season: "I feel like killing everybody ... I'm on edge all the time."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 12, 2014
Kobe on next year: "I don't want to say I'll be at the top of my game, people saying (I'm old or crazy). But that's what it's going to be."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 12, 2014
Kobe may get back to somewhere close to his pre-injury self, but even adding that Kobe to this roster likely would not mean making the playoffs in the West. Most Laker observers (myself included) think the Lakers are on a multi-year rebuilding project and next year’s Lakers, while likely better than this version, is not going to be very good.
Kobe has no patience for that, as tweeted by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
Kobe says he expects huge things from Lakers' front office going forward. Says he has "not one lick" of patience for future.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) March 12, 2014
Kobe wants Jim and Jeanie Buss to figure out their strained relationship. He's not happy to continually be left out of Lakers' future plans.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) March 12, 2014
Kobe still upset w/ trade of Steve Blake, who he consdered a tough competitor. "I just want to get a phone call when somebody gets traded."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) March 12, 2014
An NBA star of Kobe’s stature and longevity is usually consulted by the team about moves, or at least informed. That he has not been doesn’t speak well of management. It’s one thing to let them run the ship, but it’s another not to confer with your elite talent. Agents and other players talk about these kinds of things.
It is possible the Lakers turn it around this summer — it is possible Minnesota realizes they will not re-sign Kevin Love and look to trade him to L.A. — but it’s not likely. Which means a very frustrated Kobe next season.
By the way, Kobe also got in a dig at the Clippers. Just for fun.
Kobe on what was going through his head w/t blowout to the Clippers. "Now I know what it feels like to be a Clippers fan all these years."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 12, 2014