Jerry West says it's tough to watch Kobe

When it comes to Kobe Bryant's performance this season, former Los Angeles Lakers general manager Jerry West remains a straight shooter.

The man who traded for the draft rights to a 17-year-old Bryant in 1996 says he has mixed feelings about Bryant's retirement announcement because it's difficult to watch the once-unstoppable superstar finish his career playing so poorly.

"I'm very conflicted," West said Wednesday on "The Dan Patrick Show," according to Serena Winters of Lakers Nation. "I don't like to watch him play this way, I really don't. I want him to be remembered for what he is. He was an absolute incredibly great player. ... It's hard for me to imagine, knowing him - and I've had very little contact with him in the last eight years, very little - but watching him right now, as much as he likes to win and playing with a team that frankly is not capable of winning at a high level, I'm conflicted about that. I don't know how he goes to bed at night, knowing how much he loves to win."

Before the season started, West said it was sad to see the Black Mamba nearing the end of his career, expressing hope he'd leave on his own terms. After the appalling 3-16 record the Lakers have posted this season, West hopes Kobe's legacy won't be tarnished by his career's final chapter.

"I want to remember him for his greatness and for how much winning meant to him. He's got a completely different mentality than almost any player I've ever seen in my life. I wonder how he really feels about it, I'm sure he knows that he doesn't have to do this anymore at the end of the year, but I just wonder when they're losing like this, how does he come to grips with it, when that has meant everything to him in his life?"

Mr. Clutch hopes that Bryant will follow in his footsteps, and believes Kobe has what it takes to be in management.

"I think it would be great if he could get in a position to be able to contribute in other ways with his mind, with his ability to see things on the court that most people could never see," West said. "I think it would be something that he would enjoy. It's hard work, there's a lot of pressure on you to do it. Does he want to face that pressure? I think only he could answer that question."

Bryant told reporters Friday that he wasn't interested in being a coach or GM, saying he sees ownership as the only way he'd stay involved in the league.