LA Lakers Superstar Kobe Bryant Says He’s 100% For Next Season; Warns Critics Against Counting Out Team For Championship
LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant will be ready once the NBA opens for the 2014-2015 season as he warned critics against counting out the organization in contending for the championship in the future.
LA Lakers superstar is in Brazil for the World Cup 2014 and was chanced upon by the New York Daily News which asked him if he's ready to suit up in November when the season starts.
"Oh, yeah. I'm 100 percent. One hundred percent," he said.
In the April 24 op-ed piece, titled "What will the Lakers get from Kobe Bryant next season?" Eric Pincus of the L.A. Timessuggested that Kobe Bryant's injury plus his advancing age will limit his minutes on the floor.
LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant just signed a two-year extension worth $48.5 million with the Lakers even while rehabbing his Achilles injury. Last season, he averaged 13.8 points and 6.3 assists playing a shade under 30 minutes a game.
"Pencil Bryant in at 21 points and 4.7 assists a night, accounting for reduced minutes," Eric Pincus wrote. "Will that be enough to help the Lakers return to playoff contention?"
The LA Lakers also remain outside the favorites with as much as 20-1 odds of winning the championship next year, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.
However, the "Black Mamba" has a warning for critics and doubters: "That's the best time, when people count you out."
LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant also agreed with the team taking its sweet time to hire the next coach, after two of its last coaches-Mike Brown and Mike D'Antoni-got the boot.
"Unfortunately there are very few great coaches out there. I don't know why that is, but there are very few great coaches left in the world. We're really going to take our time and try and pick the right person," he told NY Daily News.
