Kobe plans to go down shooting, even if 'losing is losing'
The unfortunate backdrop to Kobe Bryant's season-long farewell tour has been the Los Angeles Lakers' ineptitude. For the third consecutive year, the once-flagship team set a franchise record for losses in a season Wednesday night, but afterwards Bryant clarified that, to him, there are no degrees of losing.
"It's hard for people to understand this, but losing is losing," Bryant said, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes. "You either win a championship or you're shit. It's very black and white to me ... you either win a championship or you're in the same boat we're in."
That "boat" is the Lakers' first string of three straight losing seasons since from 1958-61, which included the franchise's move from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
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The Lakers' bed was made the past few years however, when they failed on the free-agent market. It was widely assumed a year ago that the 2015-16 season would be Bryant's last, something he confirmed in November. As a result, the team has been in a designed limbo this season, its sole purpose essentially to be Bryant's swan song.
Nobody is more aware of this than Bryant himself, and he wants to give the fans one final show every night.
"I just try to get my body ready as much as possible to try to give the fans what they want for these last few games," Bryant said. "And God willing, I'm healthy and I can move and I can play well enough and I can give them what they came to see one more time."
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The 20-year veteran knows that's coming at the expense of the Lakers' young players, a core that is talented but far from refined.
"I feel bad for the other guys, because every time they shoot the ball, they get booed," Bryant said. "Honestly, I couldn't imagine if I was in that situation and I was playing with (Michael Jordan). You'd almost have to beat me up to not pass him the ball. But I will defer. I'll just come out and play the game and tell the guys, 'play the game.'
"This is what I'm here for, one more time, to just play the game."