Kobe: Time for younger Lakers to call the shots
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Throughout his career, Kobe Bryant has taken over plenty of games, going on epic scoring flurries by overpowering opponents with his talent, skill and athleticism.
Despite his advanced age and several recent season-ending injuries, the 37-year-old Bryant, now in his 20th season with the Lakers, still enjoys taking over games, or at least trying to, especially when his team is down big, as they have been many times in recent years.
For instance, just consider a mid-November game last season against the Golden State Warriors, when the Lakers fell behind by 38 points. Bryant took complete control of the offense, firing 34 shots in 31 minutes, though it was too little, too late.
“I’d rather not have to do that,” Bryant said after that blowout loss, “but you can’t just sit back and watch crime happen in front of you.”
Now, though, Bryant said he’s a changed man.
“Can’t do it,” he said after Friday’s 132-114 loss to the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena here. “Got to let them develop.”
The “them” Bryant is referring to is the Lakers’ young players: rookie guard D’Angelo Russell, second-year guard Jordan Clarkson and second-year forward Julius Randle.
But, Bryant admits, it’s not easy to pull back.
“It’s difficult,” Bryant said. “But it has to be done.”
Bryant played just 22 minutes against the Kings in part because the game got out of hand, with the Kings ultimately leading by 31 points.
Even in limited minutes, though, Bryant’s play was less than inspiring for the second straight outing.
After scoring 24 points on a rough 8-for-24 outing in the team’s season-opening loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, Bryant finished with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 1-of-8 from 3-point range, against the Kings.
“My legs still aren’t there yet in terms of timing and 3-point shots, but [Friday night], I felt I played much better,” Bryant said.
Twice in the first half, and on consecutive plays, the Kings knocked the ball off Bryant’s knee out of bounds.
Kings center DeMarcus Cousins also wrestled the ball from Bryant’s grip and forced a jump ball that Bryant didn’t even attempt to win.
Bryant is also 5-of-21 from 3-point range through two games. Against the Kings, Bryant fired three 3-pointers in the first four minutes and was 1-of-6 from beyond the arc in the first nine minutes.
Lakers coach Byron Scott has said he’d like Bryant to shoot closer to the basket.
“I’m not worried about it,” Bryant said. “I can always get to those spots.”
And then he steered his answer in a different direction altogether, toward the team’s young players.
“I’m really wanting to let the young guys, especially D’Angelo, let him call the game,” Bryant said. “Let him call the game. Let him organize the game. Let him read the game. Let him read the flow. Let him make those decisions.
“Which is part of me taking a step back, which needs to be done. You have to let the young guys make those reads and you have to be able to help them and support them with those reads.”
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