Let’s check in with Kobe Bryant and see how he’s adjusting to his new playmaking, non-ball-handling role in the Los Angeles Lakers offense.
Kobe said, "I do not like setting up the offense. I hate it." Said Phil made him do it in the triangle.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) October 3, 2015
Kobe: "You guys know I like scoring the ball, why the hell would I like setting the offense up?"
— Bill Oram (@billoram) October 4, 2015
Awesome! Looks like everything is going super great! Wait, what’s that? This deserves nuance? Fine, if you insist.
The Lakers are one of the most well-covered teams in professional sports, and ever since Bryant’s role change was announced, he’s likely been asked about it hundreds of times in hundreds of different variations. By now, even though we’re just barely into training camp, he’s probably pretty tired of having to answer the question over and over and over again. Of course he’s not going to stop scoring just because he might be a primary playmaker – he’s Kobe Bryant! He was born to score, and even in this diminished capacity, it’s still his natural instinct.
Plus, the Lakers seem to have a budding star floor general in rookie D’Angelo Russell. After years of playing with non-playmaking point guards, Bryant’s thankful to have someone he can trust with the ball besides himself.
Kobe: "Haven’t played with point guards that are playmakers at heart. D’Angelo is a ridiculous playmaker man. I’d much rather catch & shoot"
— Bill Oram (@billoram) October 3, 2015
Kobe Bryant, lavishing praise upon a teammate, and a rookie at that? What’s next? Are they going to be best friends, nigh inseparable?
Kobe Bryant went full Murtaugh today when asked how he relates to D'Angelo Russell despite the 18-year age gap pic.twitter.com/vpFxZJRdiO
— Bill Oram (@billoram) October 4, 2015
Oh, okay. Same old Kobe. Good. That was getting weird there for a minute.