Have you ever had that friend who the rest of the group just says: “Oh, that’s just so-and-so.” They’re late for everything; they skimp out on dinner and bar tabs; you don’t trust them with you significant other… But you keep making excuses for them because of what else they bring to the table or how long the friendship has lasted.
Eventually, it hits everyone that, hey, maybe that friend is just an a-hole. No one else gets those same excuses made for them, right? So what is it about that one friend?
For the Lakers and many fans, it appears we’re reaching that point with Kobe Bryant. For the last two decades, you’ve overlooked some chemistry issues, borderline selfishness on the court, and a manipulation of the various offensive systems at only his benefit because, you know, he’s Kobe. All the other stuff was worth it.
Now, at the end, though, those habits are rearing their ugly head, and at the detriment of the Lakers’ future. Tuesday night in Philadelphia was the absolute worst case scenario of his farewell tour taking priority over developing the rest of the roster. Or so we hope.
Look, if I was Kobe I might look at the current state of the Lakers and say something like:
I’ve been carrying this franchise for close to two decades. Now, I’d like to go out guns a-blazing. These kids have the foreseeable future to develop and the rest of these vets probably won’t be here after this season. Oh, and Byron is totally cool with whatever I tell him to be cool with.
(More on Byron in a bit)
There’s also the issue of the habits Kobe has formed as the driving force of the Los Angeles Lakers for so long. Kobe might actually think this is yet another situation he could shoot himself out of. It’s crazy to think, but old habits die hard, right? Almost every other form of adversity has been solved through shooting, why would this be any different for the Clint Eastwood-esque character who took said shots? He’s said as much in the past, Kobe might actually think he’s helping.
Back to Byron, in a semi-short aside… And this is all hypothetical:
His quotes have reached an incredible level of insanity as he’s tried to keep this locker-room from outright mutiny against either Kobe or Scott, himself.
There’s no surer way to get fired than to screw up the dynamic between him and Bryant. Once he loses that relationship, it’s over. Say what you will about the priorities the franchise should have, but if the team is losing and the youth isn’t developing, the front office can at least explain it away with growing pains.
If Kobe’s poor play continues, Byron calls him on it and Kobe decides it time to hang ’em up before all those home games pass, and the ratings fall off a cliff (as they have post-Bryant injuries recently), Scott fails at what feels like his top priority.
Basically, no one expects Scott to last past this year anyway. The only way to make it even that far is to appease the all-time great at the end of the line. It might just be this is the only feasible way to handle the situation.
For Kobe, the last two games might not necessarily be the best gauges as to his intentions the rest of the season. The question could be floated out there as to whether he cares about this team beyond his farewell tour, but the issue should only be asked about, not concluded upon. The first game occurred at home after an emotional farewell to the game he loves. The second came in his hometown. Of course he might force things a little.
Byron’s intentions and Kobe’s inability to balance his swan song with the betterment of the team do kind of absolve the Lakers’ youth of dealing with the situation they’ve been dealt. Scott and Bryant both probably expect Clarkson, Russell and Randle to deal with what’s been given to them. It’s a point of view lacking in nuance, but it’s still where the more old-school ideology comes from. Is it ideal that the kids deal with this? Not even remotely. Will it change anytime soon? Probably not, unfortunately.
While the Bryant-Byron relationship souring would be the surest way to see Scott’s tenure come to an end sooner than expected, the rift that appears to be growing between Kobe and the rest of the locker-room is certainly worrying. When Nick Young (the same guy who dressed up as God’s gift to women) is saying things like not wanting to be a circus, the tendency is to overlook them as mere ramblings.
Young does make a valid point, though.
Yes, the Lakers at this point are serving as the secondary band members to one of the greatest concert tours of all time’s final ride. No, the rest of the Lakers are not anywhere near as important at this very moment as Kobe has been over the last decade to the Lakers. Yet it’s still fair to get frustrated when each possession Kobe is involved in ends with an isolation that might end in a pass but probably won’t. When the coach is saying someone has earned the privilege to play poorly, of course that player’s teammates are going to wonder to what point that continues.
It’s not fair to assume Kobe will figure that out on his own. Neither is it fair to blame Byron completely for how much, if at all, the locker room dynamics deteriorate. Blaming the peripheral teammates is borderline ridiculous. The Lakers organization as a whole — while at times questionable — has very little to do with the day-to-day dealings of the team.
At some point, though, all parties involved have to ask whether that friend in the group (Kobe) is worth the excuses any longer. If things continue as they did Tuesday night as the organization hit a new low even by perpetual optimist Bill MacDonald’s standards, everyone involved might decide they are not. We just have to hope Kobe comes to something close to that realization along with everyone else.
Zenjuris says
We are Lakers fans first and Kobe fans second. The way Kobe is playing tarnishes his reputation and will only make his biggest supporters through thick and thin respect him less. He resembles the once star quarterback who is still hanging around the high school after his glory days are gone. That is a shame. If he wanted to be, Kobe could be the best facilitator on the team. We could enjoy a season marveling in his ability to make assists and to find ever new ways to redefine himself as a player and contribute to his team. I’ll give him a pass for last night’s game against the 76ers because he was playing in his hometown. I’ll give him a pass if he wants to take all the shots for his final game at Staples Center on April 13. But between now and then, we fans deserve better.
Big Tasty says
Very good blog post my friend. This season is a write off already, just need games like the defeat to Pacers where the young trio all play well. Next season is the start of the promise land, get Simmons (hopefully), Bryon admits defeat and is replaced with WALTON. Then off load the deadwood in the squad and get some good free agents and go from there. Make Metta a coach and get him to retire.
Kelly, Sacre, Lou, Bass, The Fake Nash (Huertas),
Keep – Russ, Randle, Clarkson, Nance Jr, Brown (will he ever play), Black, maybe Hibbert.
Do you keep Swaggy P for the laughs and humour?
Archon says
Byron Scott is obviously the heat shield for Kobe and mainly the front office this year. If Byron Scott thought his job and career were on the line this year he’d bench Kobe, he would have no choice with the way he’s playing. Obviously BS has been told not to rock the boat (once it was clear Kobe was finished as an NBA player) and that he would get a chance to coach this team next year.
At this point Scott is the company man doing exactly what the front office wants him to do.
bluehill says
Good post, Anthony. You said what I’m guessing a lot of us have been feeling, but haven’t wanted to say out loud out of respect for Kobe and his accomplishments. I don’t think anyone is surprised by Kobe’s behavior this season because it’s consistent with things we’ve seen throughout his career. Kobe professes in love of the Lakers, but then does things that make me question how sincere he is. Maybe he does want what is best for the organization but only after he does what is best for himself. As someone pointed out on the prior post, I hope Kobe has a “come to Magic moment,” but not holding my breath.
Robert says
Anthony: Interesting read. ” it appears we’re reaching that point with Kobe Bryant” We have been at this point numerous times during his career – only worse. No – his play has not been worse, but the vitriol has been and then some. Are you forgetting 2003? 2004? The Kobe hatred was at a peak and people were blaming him for lost rings and losing Shaq. Ditto in 2007 when he demanded the trade. The hatred was way worse. And while I did not agree with any of it, the case was stronger. In 2003 + 2004 there were those who felt Kobe cost us the title. In 2007 there were those who were simply done with him. What are we talking about now? Well if KB just got out of the way, and Byron could get out of the way, and the Lakers could get out of their own way, and then the draft picks develop, then we might have the beginnings of a rebuild. That is what Kobe is in the way of? It may seem worse but it isn’t. I remember what people were saying in 2003 + 2004 and it was a lot uglier than this. Everyone knows now that the Byron/Kobe show is in its last season. Back then we were looking at more than a decade of a Kobe led franchise (or not had things worked out differently). Some just could not deal with that and they ripped Kobe. It is no wonder after going through those years that Kobe is able to ignore the comments being made now.
TempleOfJamesWorthy says
Yes! Thank you!
For all of the plaudits about Kobe’s work ethic, his competitiveness, his basketball IQ, his deep appreciation for the history of the game, etc. (and I respect all of that), it is almost comical how little growth there has been in Kobe’s approach to the game in 20 years.
In Year One, his outlook was “We’ll win if I shoot more.”
In Year Twenty, his outlook is “We’ll win if I shoot more.”
All of that extra practice, all of that perfected footwork, all of those cutting-edge medical procedures, all of his playing through injury was never about “I need to be out there to help the team any way I can.” It was always about “I need to be out there shooting the ball.”
While I can think of a half-dozen examples of Magic Johnson making changes to his game, adding skills, taking on new responsibilities, etc. to help make the Lakers a better team, I can only think of two instances of Kobe giving up his “We’ll win if I shoot more” credo for team benefit (Game 7 of the 2010 Finals when Kobe fought for 15 rebounds (and shot 6-24); the 2012-2013 season when Kobe temporarily revamped the Lakers offense around his post play and averaged double-digit assists for five or six games).
And that’s what has been so frustrating for much of Kobe’s career. Kobe, the supposed singular talent and basketball genius, couldn’t seem to find a way to contribute other than “I have to shoot more.”
In ordinary life, this is classified as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Throughout Kobe’s career, this has been dismissed as Kobe Being Kobe.
Alas, I don’t know what the Lakers can do at this point. The Kobe Bryant Farewell Tour is really the only reason to buy a ticket or turn on the TV right now (excepting OCD fans who will stomach 2 hours of bad play to catch signs of incremental rookie progress). But I don’t think what happened in Philly can be tolerated long-term. Me-first behavior is the death of competitive sports teams, and the infection can spread quickly. Someone in the organization has to finally say “No” to Kobe.
teamn says
Great, great post. Good questions for us to discuss and for Laker brass to, hopefully answer.
Also, I get the point many are making that two things are at play:
1. Kobe = cash.
2. This approach = top 3 pick.
Maybe #1 is true (not sure how I could challenge that analytically), but for #2 I see some downsides. Maybe at the end of the day those get washed away by Ben Simmons. I sure hope so.
Clutch says
This is the last I will ever get to see kobe play basketball, to be honest I wouldnt care if he shot it 50 times a game as its the last I will get to see of my favorite player in all of sports. This team is literally going to do nothing this year as it is. And losses only help us keep out draft pick which we need as we have no assetd anyone wants.
Let kobe shoot and lose games its a win win.
KO says
Think you guys are complacating this.
Simple conspiracy.
Plan A’Give team a month to see if Mitch’s silly prediction of 8th seed was right.
Answer is no way.
Plan B- Announce Kobe retirement and have a 65 game “see him now one last time” money grab.
Joke is on us.
And I don’t find it funny.
Dr Mike says
Kobe is not only having the worst season of his career but likely playing the most ineffective basketball by an NBA regular in the last 30 years.
david h says
when kobe’s statue is erected and placed in front of staples center near downtown los angeles; the inscription will read: “the next one will go in” for sure….
how else can we best remember him?
even money on kobe to play tonite.
Go lakers
Jim C. says
I’m an unequivocal “yes” on the subject of whether or not Kobe is hurting the future of the team. I say this because I think he’s not only hindering the development of the youngsters, but also because he’s making it harder to make the case that the youngsters are future stars to upcoming free agents.
Just for the sake of argument, let’s just say that none of the current Laker youngsters would actually play BETTER with the ball in their hands more and a less isolation heavy offense and just do a little stat prorating.
Jordan Clarkson is currently putting up this statline:
15.8 ppg, 47.6% fg, 42.6% 3pt fg, 77.1% ft, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, .2 blocks, 1 steal for a PER of 16.22
That’s not bad for a second year player who’s being asked to play more off the ball to allow for DeAngelo Russell to handle the ball more. But it also is because of how much Kobe is both handling the ball and shooting the ball.
Now imagine a world where Kobe shoots the ball five fewer times per game and those shots go to Clarkson. Jordan is currently getting 13.4 shots per game, which means his average point per shot is 15.8/13.4=1.18. With five more shots per game he’d be averaging almost 22 points per game as a second year player. 15.8+(1.18*5)=21.7 on extremely efficient shooting. His assist totals would also likely benefit from having the ball in his hands more and in Kobe’s less. Let’s just give him 4 assists per game since I think that’s reasonable if he had a much higher possession usage rate than he currently has.
22 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds per game as a second year player. If I’m a free agent, that looks like an up and coming all-star. In fact, here’s Kobe’s third year in the league statline (in 38 minutes per game, or six more than Clarkson’s currently playing.)
19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists with shooting percentages of 46.5/26.7/83.9
The same goes for guys like Randle and Russell. Kobe’s inefficiency isn’t just hurting the team’s results by itself. It’s also not letting the youngsters put up higher stats that the front office can use to help sell the developing core to upcoming free agents that they’re future stars.
I’ve long been a huge Kobe fan and a defender of his when the stat geeks claimed he wasn’t as good as the popular perception of him was based on advanced statistics. But there is absolutely no question in my mind that he’s hurting the team’s future on multiple levels right now.
Mid-Wilshire says
Anthony,
An excellent write-up. Thank you. Well done.
The solution to the “Kobe problem” is, I think, actually fairly simple: find a new coach who will monitor and manage Kobe’s minutes more carefully. If Kobe plays fewer minutes, he will take, in all likelihood, fewer shots. Also, if Kobe plays fewer minutes, this will allow more time for the younger players to get out on the court (here’s looking at you, Anthony Brown, Larry Nance, Jr., and Tarik Black).
To demonstrate how Kobe’s minutes are getting out-of-control under Byron Scott’s leadership, here is a list of the minutes played by Kobe over the last 8 games:
31:42
33:29
34:08
24:41
31:23
37:04
35:43
32:05
So, out of the last 8 games, Kobe has played more than 31 minutes in 7 of those. And the outlier, the 24:41 of last week, occurred in the game against Golden State which was of course a blow out. (None of the starters played in the 4th Q.)
The average of these 8 games is 32:54 — entirely too much in my humble opinion. As a result, I think that Byron is playing with fire. He is risking Kobe’s health and having Kobe take up minutes that could be allotted to other (younger) players whom we are attempting to groom and develop for the future.
The fault of all of this resides, IMO, with Byron Scott. Until there is a change at the Head Coach position, we can expect more of the same. And that would be a pity.
Anonymous says
Another thoughtful post Anthony, nice job.
“We just have to hope Kobe comes to something close to that realization along with everyone else.”
I won’t hold my breath; his agenda doesn’t seem real simpatico with any “Laker team” goals. Perhaps this modus operandi works for the Buss twins, given current circumstances. Smoke & mirrors, dog & pony show, Panem et Circenses…whatever works.
As someone else mentioned, I think he’s stat-padding for whatever reason(s)…but it’s mere folly for me to do anything but guess why…..Eating first is better than not, legacy enhancement, or maybe he caught wind of Robert’s Kobe Alerts.
A coupla years removed, who knows, all this may be simply spun that even in his final campaign that, despite all those career-threatening injuries, he still led his team in minutes and PPG…
T. Rogers says
Unfortunately, Kobe needed one more stage in his evolution as a basketball player. In the early days he was a slasher. He used his exceptional athleticism to get to the rim at will. Then he evolved and became a mid range monster. He became automatic from that area when facing up. And he perfected his footwork so he could post up from that area as well. Then his evolution as a player stopped. Kobe needed to evolved one more time into an off ball target. One who could catch and shoot. Or catch while diving to the rim.
Tim Duncan is on his 3rd act. He started out doing his damage from the high post. He then became a center when Robinson retired moving to the low block. Now he is a pick and roll guy. Pop got him out of the post to save his legs and extend his career. But that last act also took Tim off the ball. And I think that’s always been the sticking point for Kobe. He just didn’t seem willing to give up control of the ball.
He is who he is. He’s still a legend no matter what. But it really doesn’t look good right now.
rr says
The Lakers organization as a whole — while at times questionable — has very little to do with the day-to-day dealings of the team.
—
The FO can’t control individual locker-room interactions per se, but either Mitch or Jim could order Byron to play the young guys and cut Kobe’s minutes right now, today, if they wanted to, and could fire Byron if he refused. Responsibility ultimately goes to the top. Basically, IMO anyone writing another one of these Kobe/Byron pieces should at least mention the guys who hired them/the guys they work for.
Also, let’s say Byron or an interim called Kobe in and, respectfully, told him he was going to be playing fewer minutes, and that they wanted him to cut back on the 3s. What is Kobe’s leverage to say no in that scenario? I suppose ticket sales/TV ratings for the Retirement Tour—he could say he was quitting, but that would be leaving a huge amount of money on the table. He could say he would sit games out, I suppose, but a lot of the tickets have already been sold. Go to the media? Go to Jeanie? It might get nasty, but ultimately Kobe is an employee, and the Lakers are a terrible team that needs to make some changes if they want to compete better than they are. Conceding that it is very easy for me to say these things from the safety of my desktop computer, I simply do not see the org. as standing on a precipice in terms of confronting Kobe at this time. This isn’t July of 2004.
Drrayeye says
Great thread and comments. Long term Laker fans just need to bite their tongues, keep theirs mouths shut, and be patient. We’ve already struck rock bottom. There is no place to go but up.
Clay Bertrand says
Have the Kobe Worshippers surrounded Anthony’s house yet?? Be careful bro!!!!
DieTryin says
Anthony kudos on a very thoughtful post.
Robert – you are accurate about how there have been times that the level of venom towards Kobe has been higher but there has never been a time when his actions on the court have been worse if for no other reason than he’s a shell of his former self. To wit currently the league leader in lowest shooting efficiency. At the other periods you mentioned he was solidly ensconced as a Top 10 player. Now not so much.
Mid /RR- I am fully aligned with your POV in your last couple of posts.
The parallel question to whether Kobe is currently hurting the future of the Lakers is this:
How much damage will Kobe due to his legacy if he continues down this path?
Perhaps very little when viewed in the context of his body of work.
But many more nights like yesterday’s 17 3 point chuck fest and the inherent impact on both team chemistry and the rook’s development makes this an interesting question to ponder. I would be interested in what y’all think.
Anonymous says
rr: “I simply do not see the org. as standing on a precipice in terms of confronting Kobe at this time.”
Word.
KevTheBold says
It’s all a complicated mix of money, sentimental drama, tank conspiracies, and plain old selfishness.
Is it hurting our kids?
I agree with many here that it is.
Especially D’Angelo, our number 2 pick who is being indoctrinated as a background player in a vegas act, where his role is to pass the ball to the hero and ignore the outcome.
The main problem is imo, that this show milks the dying golden cow one last season, and league and the front office will be hesitant to give it up.
It is a business after all.
This is why I don’t see them making a move just yet, not until they figure out a way to replace that lost revenue stream.
Darius Soriano says
Responsibility ultimately goes to the top.
—
This is a common theme among a vocal set of fans and, of course, there’s merit in this. There is also personal responsibility and doing things that make sense because, you know, they make sense and not because someone tells you to or because your hand is forced.
This roster has construction issues. This is clear. The coach and the players on the team are now the people in control of how that plays out, with the coach — the person tasked with making day to day decisions — being the guy in charge. Falling back and saying “well, this coach had known issues and he was hired by these people, so let’s just blame them” is, to me, passing the buck and removing personal accountability.
Clearly a mistake was made in hiring this coach. And I doubt he gets another job as an NBA coach again. That said, coaches, like players, can improve. They can evolve. They can take it upon themselves to try to adapt. That is on that individual to do so. Absolving them of that responsibility because someone hired them? That seems strange to me.
R says
Plenty of blame to go around for sure.
My fear is that after Kobe’s gone, after Byron’s gone, the Lakers will still have a ownership/management group that is dysfunctional to its very core.
It’s getting increasingly difficult to ignore that the central problem afflicting the Lakers isn’t going away anytime soon. It won’t be solved by a firing here or a retirement there.
More and more, I’m reminded of the absolutely comically dreadful final years of Al Davis’ ownership of the Raiders.
R says
BTW, why “can’t” Byron bench the “star”?
I must be missing something here.
Is there entertainment value is watching Kobe miss shot after shot after shot?
Maybe Celtics fans enjoy it.
KC says
I just feel like we are supporting the finale of the Kobe show at the expense of other players and the fans. In his farewell tour, he still wants the center stage which then translates into the other players essentially having to waste a year in their career. Sure Kobe deserves it or has earned it but being a Lakers fan, I still worry about the future of the team post Kobe.
It’s just unfortunate that only Kobe himself is the only one that could make a change in this (and that he does not see it despite his years of experience and maturity over the years).