The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t made the playoffs since Kobe Bryant carried the team to a 45-win season in 2013, and there’s a decent chance that the team may not be able to match its record from a season ago despite adding LeBron James in the offseason.
It’s been a terrible season for Lakers fans, who have endured a rash of injuries to key players throughout the year, and the embarrassment of being publicly played by the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline.
As speculation swirls over the future of coach Luke Walton and the Lakers’ ability to improve the roster in the offseason, Bryant urged fans to remain patient in an interview with ESPN’s Mike Greenberg.
“It was unfortunate, because they got hit with so many injuries in rapid succession when they were rolling. I mean they were playing very well, I think. Exceeding people’s expectations. And then they got hit with all these injuries, set them back, knocked them off kilter a little bit – and it’s hard to reboot that. Now they’re caught in that rut, but next year should be better.”
It’s easy to forget, especially as the Lakers have lost nine of their last 10 and 20 of their last 26 games, that this team was in fourth place in the Western Conference in late December. The Lakers were 20-14 when LeBron James suffered a groin injury on Christmas day that kept him off the floor for more than a month. Since that day, the Lakers have gone 11-26. Since Lonzo Ball suffered an ankle injury against the Rockets in January, the Lakers are just 6-20.
Bryant doesn’t seem too concerned about the direction of the franchise, however. His advice for the team? Stay patient.
“I think it’s just a matter of being patient. Obviously they’ll make smart decisions. You have opportunities, pieces you can trade, assets and things of that sort. Or you can stay with the young guys who are extremely talented and have great upside, and let them develop. Either direction you go should be a good direction.”
