The Los Angeles Lakers‘ struggles seem far from over. According to multiple sources, Kobe Bryant does not want Mike D’Antoni to return as the team’s coach.
Currently the Lakers are stuck in the basement of the Pacific Division with a paltry 22-42 record. Many experts have pointed to the coaching as the cause for their poor performance on the court.
According to several unnamed sources, Kobe Bryant has made it clear he agrees with that sentiment and he is “not interested” in playing for Mike D’Antoni in the 2014-2015 season. In a recent interview, the Black Mamba spoke very bluntly about the management changes that are needed to change things around for the team.
You have to start with Jim [Buss],” Bryant said. “Start with Jim and Jeanie. How that relationship plays out. It starts there in having a clear direction and clear authority. Then it goes down to the coaching staff. What’s Mike [D’Antoni] going to do? What do they want to do with Mike?”
Bryant, who announced he will sit out the rest of this season due to a knee injury, has also advocated for the resigning of Pau Gasol who has had a very public feud with D’Antoni.
To add insult to injury, Stephan A. Smith of ESPN also reports the Lakers organization is indeed looking to unload D’Antoni so they can pursue Carmelo Anthony in the upcoming free agency. Anthony played for D’Antoni during his tenure as coach for the New York Knicks and most likely will not want to revisit that strained relationship.
Do you think Kobe Bryant will get his way or has a black cloud found a permanent spot over the Staples Center? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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Photo: WENN
