Lakers coach Byron Scott gave Kobe Bryant a day off from Lakers practice on Monday, after Bryant called himself "the 200th best player in the league right now." Bryant was also reported to have said "I'm freaking out" as well as had reportedly been really angry with himself.
ESPN said Scott had told Bryant to stay away from the gym for a day after the team's practice at their facility. The coach also advised him to spend some time with his kids and family and to get basketball off his mind for 24 hours, before he could come back the next day, hopefully fresh and rested.
Will Kobe Bryant get any better? After Sunday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, in which he missed 12 of 15 shots, he has reportedly exclaimed in frustration that he "just can't make a shot."
Scott, however, is not concerned with Bryant in general, and has said on Monday that he's fine with Bryant's shot selection. Scott is going to get to the Kobe that he knows. It's still very early as it's just three games into the season.
Rookie point guard D'Angelo Russel has also said that they're going to keep feeding him as he's in the gym 24-7.
Scott knew that Kobe was frustrated. He's one of those guys that he expects a lot more from, than most people. He also said that he doesn't expect the 37-year-old Bryant to make a quick improvement, and whose past three seasons have all been cut short by injury.
When Scott was asked when Bryant would sit out games to rest, he said he didn't know.
Byron Scott also stated that Bryant has simply missed shots that he normally makes in the season's early going. The injuries and wear and tear have sapped the five-time champion of the explosion that once made his shot-making exploits unequalled. Bryant's field goal attempts are not the only easily contested these days, but they're also difficult to make and he hasn't adjusted yet to his game accordingly, as reported by Uproxx.
Scott should hope for better performances of his team, otherwise Bryant will be in for a long season of dismal shooting.