Sir Charles in Charge
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Los Angeles Lakers: Only ‘Losers’ Afraid To Play With Kobe Bryant

By Michael Saenz

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Oct 21, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard

Kobe Bryant

(24) shoots over Phoenix Suns forward

Marcus Morris

(15) during overtime at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss defends Kobe Bryant

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The entire Los Angeles Lakers support is squarely behind Kobe Bryant, no matter what ESPN may publish.

In reaction to the World Wide Leader’s feature on Kobe — in which he was blamed for all of the Los Angeles Lakers’ current problems — that ran earlier this week, Buss says that whoever doesn’t want to play with Kobe, and the Los Angeles Lakers, is probably a ‘loser.’

"[via Los Angeles Lakers prez defends Kobe Bryant — ESPN]“Any free agent that would be afraid to play with Kobe Bryant is probably a loser, and I’m glad they wouldn’t come to the team,” Buss said during a “SportsCenter” interview Thursday.“I read the story,” Buss said Thursday. “I don’t agree with any of it. If there is somebody that’s on our payroll who is saying things like that, I’ll soon get to the bottom of it, and they won’t be working for us anymore.”"

For the record, there are no truths to the rumors that Buss also said that the players that didn’t want to play with Kobe are also poop and/or melon heads.

Seriously though, this sounds more like a desperate plea to save face more than anything. The Los Angeles Lakers are stuck with Kobe. So they may as well go out of their way, on national television, to defend him?

That’s not my cup of tea, but kudos to Buss. Sticking to her gun, in this case Kobe. Or maybe just a ticking time bomb.

They signed Kobe to that insane, head-scratching contract extension and that’s no one’s fault other than the Lakers. If anything, that’s probably why they’ve had trouble attracting other star players.

Sure, the Los Angeles Lakers have made some really bad personnel moves in the past few years — the botched Chris Paul trade, electing to hire Mike D’Antoni over Phil Jackson and not putting up a better fight to keep Dwight Howard.

But we can’t act like Kobe should be immune to some of the blame, either. After all, he is the team’s franchise player. Even if he is past his time.

While it is unfair to plaster the entire franchise’s blame on Kobe Bryant, it’s also unfair to assume that Kobe has had no part in the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent shortcomings either.

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