Kobe Bryant is saying thanks, but no thanks.
After having played in only six of his L.A. Lakers first 43 games, Bryant appears intent on turning down the opportunity to be a starter in next month's 63rd annual All-Star game in New Orleans as voted by the fans.
"With all due respect to the fans that voted me in, I certainly appreciate that, they know how much I appreciate that, but you got to do the right thing as well," Bryant told ESPN Thursday. "My fans know you got to reward these young guys for the work that they've been putting in."
Bryant finished with 988,884 votes, second among Western Conference guards to Golden State's Stephon Curry and fifth among all players. The selection was the 16th of his 18 year career.
"I think it's important for them to go in and perform," Bryant said of younger, more deserving players. "They've been playing all season. They deserve to be in there. They deserve to play. So, I see no reason why they shouldn't be out there doing their thing."
Bryant added he hoped to return to the Lakers lineup from his left knee injury prior to the Feb. 16 game, but felt even that wouldn't be enough to justify him being there as an all-star starter.
"It wouldn't be enough to have me be deserving to play in the All-Star Game," he told ESPN.
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