When the Lakers hired Mike Brown and didn’t consult Kobe Bryant before doing so, they introduced an entirely new dynamic to the team. There have been times where Brown has shown he’s not afraid to challenge Kobe, but others where it becomes obvious that the Lakers are Bryant’s team now that Phil Jackson is gone. For example, Kobe shot a combined 17-of-57 from the field during back-to-back Laker losses last week. His shot selection was particularly poor, and Brown called him out on it after Wednesday’s loss to Washington. The problem is he later apologized for it, according to the L.A. Times.
The Lakers are trying just about everything to win, which they did Friday, 105-102, at Target Center, as Kobe Bryant scored 34 points a day after a team video session turned into a say-what-you-want meeting between coaches and players, The Times has learned.
Coach Mike Brown apologized to Bryant for publicly questioning his shot selection after the Lakers’ stunning 106-101 loss Wednesday in Washington. Brown also apologized to Matt Barnes and Metta World Peace for insinuating the same thing about their shot selection in that game.
Brown then invited the players to speak their minds, which was when Kobe expressed that he felt the long meetings were unnecessary and that the team should do its talking on the court.
Brown hasn’t done a great job of coaching — particularly with the offense — but the fact that he feels the need to apologize for calling a player out about something completely fair is alarming. Whether it be Kobe or Metta World Peace, it seems like the Lakers’ new coach has to walk on eggshells in his own locker room. Maybe the big win over the rival Celtics on Sunday will improve the situation.
