Well this definitely isn’t what Kobe Bryant wanted to hear.
With his Los Angeles Lakers on the market for their third head coach in as many seasons, Bryant has made it known that he would like a say in who the team hires on to be his next coach. According to ESPN LA, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak may have shot down that idea altogether.
“From time to time we ask his advice,” Kupchak told ESPN’s Andy Katz at the NBA draft combine Thursday in Chicago. “He really won’t weigh in on something like this. I’m not even sure that we’ll talk to him prior to interviews. But from time to time, he is in our facility, I’ll go downstairs and I’ll talk to him about a bunch of different things.”
During an appearance last week on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Bryant publicly pined for a seat at the table when it comes time to choose the replacement for Mike D’Antoni, who resigned last month.
“On the last two they didn’t,” Bryant said, referring to former coaches Mike Brown and D’Antoni, both of whom failed to endure the length of the initial contracts they signed with the Lakers before parting ways. “On the third one, I’m hoping they do.”
With Bryant’s career winding down, it does make sense for the Lakers to not put significant weight into his opinion as they are looking for a long-term replacement that will hopefully be around long after Kobe is gone.
Knowing Kobe, this likely won’t sit well with the All-Star. Bryant is not one to be shy when it comes to voicing his opinion, and likely will make it known if he is not happy with whoever the Lakers do eventually hire. The franchise might be headed for a dramatic summer in the coming months, or as those in Los Angeles call it, just another Laker off-season.