The Mamba sits down with Yahoo Sports on upcoming season
When it was first reported last week that the Los Angeles Lakers were contemplating playing Kobe Bryant at power forward, we thought they were delusional at the 37-year-old player down low. With more teams going small after success seen this decade from the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors with no true center, the Black Mamba spoke briefly with Yahoo Sports yesterday for the first time ever about a possible part-time change from his signature two-guard spot. The team picked up veterans Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass this summer, as well as seeing the return of rookie Julius Randle to the team from his season-ending injury last year.
We’re not sure how Kobe will be able to guard the Western Conference powerhouses with legit power-forwards like Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph, Dirk Nowitzki, Serge Ibaka, Derrick Favors and the always outspoken Kevin Garnett. Take a look at excerpts from the interview, where he discusses potentially playing past next summer, whether or not his team can make the playoffs and more.
Yahoo Sports: Can this Lakers team make the playoffs?
Kobe: “Of course it can. Absolutely. We have talented players in their respective positions. We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don’t know. We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does. We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths.”
Yahoo Sports: What do you think about playing small forward?
Kobe: “I don’t see what the big deal is about it, honestly. What does that even mean anyway? Everyone plays [expletive] small ball anyway. You got forwards that play like [guards]. [Centers] that play like [small forwards]. What’s the difference? Find me some actual [small forwards] and [power forwards] that actually post up now and then. …
Yahoo Sports: Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has hinted that next season can be your last. Could it be?
Kobe: “We haven’t set anything in stone and I’ve talked about it before. But could this be the last [season]? Absolutely. It’s tough to decide. It’s really tough to make those types of decisions. Players I have spoken to say, ‘Kobe you will know.’
“I’m making this very simple. Either I like playing the game and going through this process or I don’t. I try to strip it down to the simplest form. Either I like playing some more or I don’t. But I think that decision needs to be made after the season. It’s hard to make a decision like that before the season.”
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