Head coach Byron Scott has finally answered those calls. Bryant will sit out Tuesday night's home game against the West-leading Golden State Warriors, and it looks like this could be a recurring theme for Kobe as the season continues. Here's Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report on Twitter:
Yahoo's own Marc Spears reported Sunday that this plan looked like a distinct possibility. It's a good idea for the future of the Lakers, both because Kobe is not succeeding at his current work rate and because the team's other players figure to benefit from playing in an offense that isn't so dependent on his high-volume scoring.
That's not to say that Bryant should welcome the decision as an overwhelming positive at this point in his career. We've said before that this Lakers season is less about the team's performance than its star's pursuit and capture of various records and milestones, the most notable of which occurred last Sunday when Kobe passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Sitting out with any regularity could extend Kobe's career, but it could also keep him from piling up points before age robs him of more of his athleticism.
This is the right move for all parties, at least in this particular case. However, it's important to note that the priorities of Kobe and the Lakers may not align forever. If Kobe wants to continue his pursuit of records, the team may eventually decide it's not for the betterment of the franchise.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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