Kobe Bryant Wants Lakers Fans To ‘Relax’ While The Team Struggles Through Injuries

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With the way the Lakers are struggling right now maybe, Kobe Bryant should consider coming out of retirement. Well OK, that isn’t going to happen, but would it shock anybody if he played a few games just to give the Lakers some bodies to work with? Los Angeles has lost five of its last six games since Christmas. During that span of games LeBron James, Javale McGee, Kyle Kuzma, and Rajon Rondo have all missed time due to injury.

Some fans are beginning to grow frustrated. They want to see results from their young players like Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball. These guys are supposed to be the future, right, so where’s the progress? The resulting struggles have made some call to fire Luke Walton.

And even Bryant seems frustrated. On Sunday, after the Lakers lost 108-86 to the Wolves, Kobe tweeted out his general frustration with the loss. But when a fan suggested the removal of Walton, Kobe told them that the fans needed to chill out.

Bryant isn’t wrong that the Lakers were playing far better when they were healthy, as most teams do. He’s also right that Lakers fans need to relax and not go into full on panic mode because of a single bad stretch of games. A lot is being put on to the shoulders of guys like Ball and Ingram to produce when they’re still young and developing. And it’s unfair to expect them to play like stars and for Walton to bring out the best of a roster that is missing some of its most key pieces.

Of course, while Bryant is taking the long view, there is a legitimate concern to be had with the Lakers depth if it can’t handle injuries. Losing James is one thing, but there’s been a constant theme with them this season. Someone is injured and the player stepping up isn’t quite good enough. That’s a problem that needs to be addressed whether it’s through trades or signing new players next offseason.

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