Byron Scott: Benching Kobe is 'not an option whatsoever'
As long as Kobe Bryant is healthy enough to compete, he's going to be a starter for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 37-year-old's numbers have been borderline heartbreaking to begin the 2015-16 season, but even so, head coach Byron Scott affirms that moving "The Black Mamba" to the second unit on a permanent basis is something he simply will not do.
"I would never, never, never do that," Scott said after Friday's practice, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes. "That's not an option whatsoever."
Bryant is averaging a team-high 15.2 points on 31.1 percent shooting (career low) from the field and 19.5 percent from deep in 30.5 minutes per game during his 20th - and perhaps final - season in the league. Bryant's 16.4 shot attempts are also 3.5 more than 23-year-old Jordan Clarkson, and 6.3 more than rookie D'Angelo Russell - two key pieces for the post-Bryant era of Lakers basketball.
The 17-time All-Star - who hasn't come off the bench for an outing since 2003-04 - can seemingly do no wrong in the eyes of his coach, with whom he played alongside during his rookie campaign in 1996-97. Horrid percentages and questionable shot selection aren't enough for Scott to send the five-time champion to the pine. Not surprising, considering that Scott recently said the shooting-guard-turned-small-forward has earned the "privilege" to continue playing as he always has.
Related: Byron Scott to maintain status quo with Kobe Bryant's minutes
Bryant's real plus-minus rating (registers net change in score when a player is on the floor) of minus-3.96 ranks 381st in the league and 72nd among small forwards and has no doubt played a part in the Lakers' 2-12 record.
It's a sad way to end such a legendary career, with Scott doing Bryant no favors by feeding him to the wolves when Father Time and a slew of injuries have finally caught up to the Lakers icon.