MANILA, Philippines – “This team is not taking a nose dive.”
In an interview with ESPN’s Darren Rovell, 5-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant shares his thoughts about the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2013-2014 season, where the team finds itself in an unfamiliar position dwelling at the bottom of the team standings with a 23-46 win loss record with the regular season nearly coming to a close.
Rovell opened the interview showing Bryant the cover of newspaper Orange County Register calling this season’s Lakers team the ‘worst ever.”
Bryant managed to be candid about the situation saying, “If you’re gonna fail, at least fail and be the best at it.”
Not long after, the 4-time All-Star MVP turned serious. He admits there’s nothing the team can do now and should focus on regrouping and getting ready to compete and win as early as next season.
“We might have had the worst season ever, or could have the worst season ever for a Lakers team, but now let’s have the greatest comeback that the league has ever seen,” said Bryant.
Injury plagued
The team had to deal with several injuries throughout the season. Bryant, who tore his achilles right before last season’s playoffs, came back early this season only to suffer another injury. Two-time MVP Steve Nash has also hardly seen any court time also due to injury.
The Lakers’ injury problems have become so bad that the team was allowed to allow a player who had already fouled out play on until the final buzzer. READ: Holding Court – Time, injuries have blunted the Lakers
Despite this, Bryant believes the proud Laker organization can more than bounce back and put together a winning team. Realizing his playing career is also about to come to an end, the “Black Mamba” wants the Lakers to put together a winning team “for selfish reasons,” because he wants to “win next season.”
“The finality of my playing days is here. It’s become real,” said Bryant.
Bryant also touched a little bit on his first business venture and how his goal is to “inspire and move people through sports.” – Rappler.com
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