Lakers Media Day: Kobe Reflective, but Optimistic

On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers held their annual Media Day, which is historically the symbolic kick-off to the new NBA season. After an offseason during which the Lakers eschewed calls to build a competitive team instead of unsuccessfully chasing after reluctant ‘superstars’, there is a lot of uncertainty about the team that did show up to training camp.

Sep 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott during media day at the team practice facility in El Segundo. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Gone is Kobe Bryant‘s long-time side-kick Pau Gasol, but the Lakers did draft potential future All Star Julius Randle, and they also traded for Jeremy Lin and successfully claimed veteran Carlos Boozer on amnesty waivers. Steve Nash is apparently as healthy as he has been since breaking his leg two years ago, and Nick Young re-signed with his hometown team.

With Lakers legend Byron Scott on board as the new head coach, the team, if nothing else, figures to have a positive aura about it after the turmoil of the Dwight Howard and Mike D’Antoni ‘era’. The problem, of course, is that the Lakers have a LOT of question marks heading into the season.

The first, and most important question, naturally, is Kobe Bryant’s health, and just how much he has left in the tank. At Media Day, Bryant was peppered with questions about his health and he seemed to get frustrated that no one seemed to believe that he really is feeling healthy right now. On the other hand, he did seem to acknowledge–moreso than at any other time in his career–that he just isn’t going to be the same player that he used to be, and that’s ok.

Sep 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) answers questions during media day at the team practice facility in El Segundo. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Bryant told reporters that, “I think as you get older you have to learn to accept certain things you can and can’t do. I think there’s great strength in that vulnerability.” Among his other quite reflective statements, he also told reporters that, “You always try to appreciate the journey. Kinda try to take it all in, because you know you’ll blink and it’ll be gone.”

For a man who has always so steadfastly refused to acknowledge his mortality, it is actually quite refreshing, and quite inspiring, to hear Wise Kobe talk. If only his body can hold up and allow him to play out his final two seasons on his terms, he might end up retiring as the most beloved sports figure in Los Angeles history.

For the Lakers as a team, however, they seem to be caught in between their past and their future, with Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant reminding fans of the good ol’ days, while youngsters like Julius Randle, Jeremy Lin, and Jordan Clarkson could potentially be giving them a glimpse of the post-Kobe future.

Unlike in past seasons, there are no realistic championship aspirations or specific games circled on the schedule. The Lakers are a team that will have to take this season day-by-day, game-by-game, and frankly, players like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash are going to be day-to-day until they retire. If somehow the Lakers can avoid the doom and gloom of the past two seasons, and a little good fortune returns to Staples Center, they might just give Los Angeles an unexpectedly good season they won’t soon forget.