Kobe Bryant is currently in Brazil to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup where the home team took on Mexico in the Group stage. While the five-time NBA champion did not really speak after suffering his second season-ending injury, Bryant has done numerous interviews and even played street soccer.
— Think You’re The Biggest Lakers Fan? Take The Ultimate Fan Quiz! —
While Bryant was not able to watch the NBA Finals due to his busy schedule, he was “very happy” for the San Antonio Spurs and their fifth championship serves as motivation for his own team via FIFA.com:
“Well deserved. It really is a lesson on how you get guys to play together if they share one goal. I am very happy for the Spurs. It is a motivation for us. Hopefully we can do the same next season.”
Although the Miami Heat were favored to three-peat, the Spurs displayed great teamwork on both ends of the court in route to their first championship in seven seasons. In a copy-cat league, numerous teams will likely use the Spurs’ blueprint to win a championship of their own next season.
For the Lakers, the franchise faces its most important off-season in nearly a decade. After failing to make the playoffs, there is optimism as the Lakers possess ample cap room to go along with the seventh pick in this year’s highly-anticipated NBA draft.
With the Lakers still looking for their next head coach after the resignation of Mike D’Antoni, Kobe hopes to lead his team to another championship in what will most likely be the final two seasons of his career. The five-time champion recently stated that he is 100 percent for next season and it will be interesting to see what level he can play at after two season-ending injuries.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Lakers Nation Best Of Top 5 Lakers NBA Finals Moments
