Kobe Bryant's Retirement Tour Is Destroying Development Of Los Angeles Lakers

Prior to the 2015-16 NBA season, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant announced that he would be retiring after the season. It has turned into one of the most selfish decisions by any player in NBA history, as one of the greatest franchises in sports has been relegated to spending an entire season saying goodbye to Kobe instead of attempting to get better for the future.

The Lakers currently sit at 11-47 which is the worst record in the Western Conference and second-worst to the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. While I’m not saying the team’s record would’ve been any better had Kobe waited until after the season to announce his retirement, I do believe the rest of the team would be further ahead than they are now.

Let’s take rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell for example. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and was expected to come in and contribute right away, but he’s instead spent the season drawing the ire of head coach Byron Scott and Kobe alike. In his defense, how’s he supposed to take control of the team and play the same way he did at Ohio State when he has to defer to Kobe every game?

Despite playing a career-low 29.8 minutes per game, Kobe is still attempting 16.8 shots per game while also shooting a career-low 35 percent from the field. Every time he heads into a NBA city for the last time, he wants to leave a lasting impression on the fans in that city because he knows they’re there to see him play for the last time. With that being the case, he tends to dominate the ball which affects the rest of the team.

Whereas 2015-16 should’ve been a season dedicated to finding cohesiveness between the young core of Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson, it’s instead been hijacked by the Kobe farewell tour. If the Lakers were still the championship organization they once were, there’s no way they would’ve ever let that happen, but they’re not, and general manager Mitch Kupchak and owner Jim Buss are instead encouraging it.

Congratulations on a great career Kobe, but also congratulations on robbing the rest of the players on the team a chance to grow and get better so that your ego can be satisfied once more.