Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant Needs Honesty From Byron Scott

The Kobe Bryant–Byron Scott relationship holds the kind of sentimental value that is rarely seen in the NBA. The two men crossed paths as they spent the 1996-97 season as teammates. Scott played mentor to Bryant in his first year as a professional. The season was Byron’s last, and it was just the beginning of a legendary run by the kid from Lower Marion High School.

Fast forward 19 years ahead, and here we are today with Bryant playing the role as the older veteran on the cusp of retirement.

While Scott took over the Lakers job in 2014 in hopes of maintaining “the Lakers way,” Bryant recovered from a career-altering injury. The questions surrounding his return were endless. Would Bryant be the same player he once was? Can Byron Scott manage his minutes and role? Given the two’s history, the franchise trusted that Scott could at least put Kobe in the best position possible.

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Like most positions of leadership, it’s been quite difficult for Scott to balance what’s right for the team with his ultimate admiration of what Kobe once was as a player.

This year, we have Kobe Bryant playing, quite possibly, the worst basketball of his career. He’s currently shooting a career-low of 32.3 percent from the field, and has launched 34 total three-points making only seven. The numbers are abysmal, and it’s even worse in motion:

The true question lies in what Byron Scott is thinking about Bryant’s sub-par performances. There hasn’t been any indication that he can muster his old otherworldly abilities to overcome his loss of speed and athleticism. Given the Lakers’ new core of talented young players, it’s nearly disturbing when hearing both Scott speak about what’s happening on the court:

I’ll be the first of many to say that Scott should change his tune, immediately. Bryant is absolutely the first guy he should be worrying about in this scenario. This team is prepared to run and likely make mistakes in the process, but that’s fine considering the development of their young guns. Kobe Bryant is chucking when he feels like he’s playing the game the right way.

There’s only one person that could curb those bad habits, and that’s Byron Scott.

Right now, the only to stop Kobe’s antics is to consider bringing him off the bench (LOUD GASP). Why does this make sense to do? Well for starters, no pun intended, this could quite possibly spare Bryant from another physical breakdown. Shaving off the extra minutes and have him play as a reserve would help him make the journey through the full season.

Another plus is that he could assist Scott in evaluating players and their gameplan from the bench. Bryant is one of the most intelligent players in the NBA. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be tapping into his IQ to making better basketball decisions for himself and the team.

Bryant is serving as an inhibitor to the younger player’s development when he’s in late during games that he’s clearly not contributing. The time he spends should be awarded to D’Angelo Russell. Of course the young guys don’t have the experience, but they can never get it with Bryant standing in the way.

Most of the minutes he is soaking up can be attributed to the Lakers catering to their fanbase. If it’s one thing they are doing a great job of, it’s selling the Black Mamba to those that spend their money to see the team nightly. The only downside is that fans can that this isn’t the same Black Mamba, but the one man in control cannot.

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Byron Scott must take control of this situation, or it could ultimately seal his fate.