Coming off of the worst season in franchise history, the Los Angeles Lakers are off to a 9-19 start and sit in last place in the Pacific Division, but star shooting guard Kobe Bryant believes the team will turn it around.
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Bryant, who has dealt with fatigue and sat out L.A.'s 115-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors (23-4) Tuesday night, said he thinks the beleaguered franchise has a plan in place to turn around its fortunes.
"I really do trust management," Bryant told USA Today Sports. "I mean I really, really do. They'll get things turned around pretty quickly. I'm not really concerned about that."
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Los Angeles missed out on Carmelo Anthony in free agency and failed to land Rajon Rondo via a trade, but that hasn't stopped Bryant from believing there is a plan in place to land the 16-time All-Star a sixth NBA title down the line.
Rondo will become a free agent after the season and he is good friends with Bryant, who met with him earlier in this campaign.
"Oh yeah," Bryant told the publication of meeting with him. "Of course. Of course. But all you can do is control what you can control. We did our part. We did what we could. ... It's not from a lack of effort. It's not from a lack of smarts, so I trust the process. It's hard going through this [expletive], but our management will figure it out."
Los Angeles made a grand attempt at landing Anthony, but he ultimately re-signed with the New York Knicks.
After being limited to six games last season due to myriad injuries, the club has constructed a plan to keep Bryant fresh, which includes sitting him out during road games. After having a terrible game Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans, Bryant sat out Tuesday's match with Golden State.
Bryant, 36, is averaging 24.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists while playing a team-high 35.5 minutes thus far in his 19th NBA season.
Byron Scott said he will have to be careful in picking off-days for Bryant, but he also stood by deciding to keep the five-time NBA champion on the sidelines on Tuesday.
"Looking at our schedule coming up, I just thought it was a good time to give him a day of rest and let him prepare for the next game," coach Byron Scott said after Tuesday's game per ESPN. "Kobe told me last night, anyway, 'Coach, whatever you want me to do. Just let me know.' So he's on board with it. I think this is something that has to happen periodically."
While he sat out Tuesday, Bryant is likely to be in the lineup when the Lakers visit the Chicago Bulls for Christmas Day action.
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