/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52901077/usa_today_9080698.0.jpg)
Kobe Bryant’s place among the Los Angeles Lakers greats is inarguable. He got there through hard work and mentoring from those who came before him. He seems interested in helping in the same way, but after their recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Luke Walton knew what the advice might be, from experience.
Bryant’s competitive nature tended to be pretty polarizing depending on the type of teammates on the other end, and after basically a 50-spot, Walton had a feeling where his champion teammate might go.
Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times had the quote, and it’s a dandy.
Told @kobebryant said on ESPN radio he was available if the Lakers need him, Luke Walton said this: pic.twitter.com/w7jDqlAyRs
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) January 24, 2017
Figure we’ll just leave this right here.
Look, as cool as it would be to have Kobe around this team and as much as knowledge as he has to impart, there’s no point in forcing a narrative that doesn’t really make much sense beyond those two points.
If and when it happens, it’ll happen, but for now, let’s let Kobe enjoy his retirement without having to worry about kids he probably considers soft as, well, you know.