The Los Angeles Lakers are 9-37 and have lost six games in a row. If not for the Philadelphia 76ers, they would have the worst record in the entire NBA. Their latest game was a 121-103 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, but that was far from the worst thing to happen. After it was over, their longtime leader, Kobe Bryant, called out his teammates and ripped into his team abut their performances.
Bryant has never been one to hold back his words and this LA Lakers’ team may need to hear what he has to say. Each of their last six losses have been by double digits, and Indie SoCal states that Bryant isn’t tired of the losing so much, but is rather frustrated with how his teammates are playing.
In the loss to the Blazers, Bryant posted 10 points and five turnovers during his 25 minutes on the floor. Sure, he isn’t having a great season and he knows his time in the NBA has come to an end. That’s why he’s retiring after the season is over.
Maybe that’s why he is being hard on young players like second-year forward Julius Randle and rookie guard D’Angelo Russell. He doesn’t want them to hurt their careers before they even really get started.
During his rant on the team, it even went as far as Bryant calling out both Russell and Randle by name. He wasn’t going to let them all just guess who he was talking to. He was asked about the comments, but said he would rather keep what was said with the team.
“You know I don’t do that gossip s***.”
On numerous occasions this season, the Lakers have been out-manned and simply outplayed. Yes, they are a very young team, but sometimes it looks as if they give up a little bit when they get behind and don’t try to get back into the game.
Kobe Bryant’s rant, or speech, as it is being called by some of the other Lakers, came from deep within his heart and soul, per NBA.com . Larry Nance, Jr. said that it was something that needed to be done and it delivered a strong statement to everyone on the team.
“It was a very heartfelt, passionate speech to us. I just really think everybody took away the same message: 9-37 isn’t alright. We got to do what we can to change that, and I think things started today.”
Jordan Clarkson heard the talk and thought it meant that everyone needed to give more and deliver a better effort. He said that “some guys shut down,” but they need to play a full four quarters and not give up even if they have a big deficit.
The LA Lakers have got to do something to salvage this season in one way or another. The playoffs are likely already out of the question, but they don’t have to finish 2015/2016 as the worst team in the NBA.
Kobe Bryant has led this team for two decades and the LA Lakers are having their worst season in a very long time. Effort needs to pick up, because the talent is there and spread all around the roster at numerous positions.
NBA trade rumors have a number of Lakers on the block , but none of them are any of the younger players. The team is rebuilding and looking to start a new team going forward, but things need to start to change now if success is to come in the future.
Kobe Bryant’s retirement will make the NBA an entirely different place next season, and it will make the LA Lakers a totally different team. While the season is a little more than halfway over, there’s still plenty of time to turn things around and he seems to be making sure it does before he leaves.
[Image by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images]