Kobe did a great interview recently, that included talks on Dwight Howard, his retirement, and being ready by the start of the season. He really has done a great job keeping fans in the loop about his health and the health of the team.
In his interview with ESPN, Bryant made it clear that he plans on being back for the season opener. It has only been six weeks since Bryant underwent surgery, but the Lakers star is already looking towards the future. He knows rehab will be tough, especially at 34, but remains optimistic.
Dwight Howard was a topic of discussion for the L.A. veteran. He mentioned that the Lakers would have an impact on the NBA next season with or without Howard.
“This franchise is a franchise that you really don’t have to worry about too much, because no matter what happens, whether it’s a year from now, two years from now, whatever the case may be, they’re always going to find a way to have an impact on this league.”
In the end, Bryant wants the big man to stay as he believes Dwight can be an integral part of the franchise he admires so much. However, Dwight hasn’t given the Lakers much of a clue as to what he is going to do. July will more than likely come with much anticipation and not a lot of forewarning.
“For me, you kind of let him do his due diligence and then move in and talk to him and figure out if this is a place he wants to be. We all want him here. But then that’s when the selling begins (after Howard is courted by other teams).”
This afternoon, Bryan tweeted that he is off crutches and doing much better. As his interview implied, the Mamba wants to be ready by the start of this coming season and being able to walk is a big part of getting back to 100 percent. This is a great sign! Bryant is still expected to continue rehabbing throughout the summer.
Metta World Peace was on ESPN’s SportsNation on Monday night following Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He spoke about Kobe, LeBron, and Michael Jordan. Check out the video here.
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Lakers News
Kobe Bryant, Lakers: 6/4 [ESPN Radio]
Metta World Peace Says He’ll Defer to His Agent Regarding Player Option to Stay with Lakers Next Season [ProBasketballTalk]
Metta World Peace Wants Dwight Howard to “Make Best Decision for Himself” [Inside the Lakers]
Lakers’ Dwight Howard Steps Up To Line, Fields Questions on Future [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant interview: The best of the rest [Los Angeles Index]
Kobe Bryant Glimpses Retirement [ESPN]
Can the Lakers Navigate Dwight Howard’s Free Agency? [LA Times]
Dwight Howard Saw a Psychiatrist to Help With Free Throw Shooting This Year [ProBasketballTalk]
Metta World Peace to Defer to Agent on Player Option [Inside the Lakers]
Kobe Aims to Play in Opener [ESPN LA]
Kobe Bryant Says Free Throws He Made After Tearing His Achilles Rank Among the Best Shots of His Career [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Bryant Experiencing a Preview of Retirement [LA Times]
Uncertainty Surrounds Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace [Inside the Lakers]
