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Lakers: Would Kobe Bryant Take A Lesser Role With Team?

By Pablo Jacobo

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Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career is nearing its conclusion. Nobody knows when, not even Bryant himself. What would he do to extend his career?

Let me start off by saying that I don’t think he’s going to call it quits after his 20th season. He’s gone down with three consecutive season-ending injuries and gave his body some much needed rest. Granted, he’s been rehabbing his injuries but he’s been off the court letting his body heal.

Lakers part-owner and VP of basketball operations Jim Buss told the L.A. Times’ Eric Pincus,

"“We’re going to approach it like it is, but that doesn’t mean it is,” Buss said of Bryant. “I’m not going to sit there and say, ‘This is it, Kobe, you’re done,’ because it’s not my decision, it’s his decision.”"

So much uncertainty surrounding Bryant’s future, but like I said I don’t think he’s done. The question is would the Black Mamba take a more diminished role with the team? The 37-year-old clearly is not able to play 35-plus minutes anymore. He seems open to the idea of playing less minutes.

"“Maybe I don’t know. It will be a game-by-game basis. I’m comfortable with whatever, flexible with whatever. We will make that decision game-to-game. We’ll listen to the training staff. I’ve been really good about listening to my body.”"

Bryant told Mark J. Spears of Yahoo in a Q&A among other interesting tidbits of his future after basketball. It sounds to me like Kobe is strategizing how to extend his playing career. He’s even shifting positions in hopes of prolonging his NBA career.

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The general consensus is that Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell will be the starting guards while Bryant plays the three and Julius Randle and Roy Hibbert make up the front court. It’s smart to have the two younger guards man the back court so Bryant doesn’t have to exude too much energy dealing with the faster guards in the Western Conference.

Obviously Kobe’s role has to change if he wants to extend his playing days further. The scorer role doesn’t suit him anymore. Lesser minutes and his role in the offense will need to be different. He may need to be more of a spot-up shooter and/or a back-to-the-basket scorer/playmaker.

The Lakers GM on Kobe’s role,

"“He just has to know, at that age, and that many miles on you, what is your role? We’ll explain the role, and if he still wants to do that and that’s how he wants to go out, that’s fine with me.”"

Bryant’s an intelligent player that can still score with the best of them but Bryant is also a very underrated passer. If he wanted he could easily average double digit assists, which would take a lot of pressure off of him to score. Would he accept that role of playmaker to let the younger players flourish?

Let’s play hypotheticals for a bit. Would Bryant play second fiddle to Kevin Durant? Another prominent free agent? The Lakers will have enough cap space for two max level contracts. Would Bryant take a bench role or go back to his natural two-guard spot and relegate one of Clarkson or Russell to the bench? I’d say that would hinder their development wouldn’t it?

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Bryant seems optimistic the Lakers have built a nice core with Clarkson, Randle and Russell even going as far as saying the team can make the playoffs. If the three prospects have a great year collectively, I don’t think Bryant would walk away from that. He’ll give it a go another year. The 17-time All-Star himself said that his retirement is not set in stone.

We don’t have a magical crystal ball to foresee the future. So many questions remain unanswered for the Black Mamba. Can he make it through at least 60 games in the season? Can he be an effective mentor to the young Lakers? His patience level during the rebuilding project?

We just don’t know.

I for one think this will not be Kobe Bryant’s last season with the Lakers.

Next: D'Angelo Russell Knows His Role With Lakers

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