Lakers coaching rumors: Kobe Bryant wants Tom Thibodeau
By Josh Sanchez
As the Los Angeles Lakers search for a new head coach begins, there will be plenty of names linked to the vacancy that was created when Mike D’Antoni resigned. Kevin Ollie is a hot name that has sparked discussion, but if Lakers star Kobe Bryant had his wish it would be a current NBA coach who joined the Lakers bench.
According to reports, Bryant would like to have Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau join the Lakers coaching staff.
From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
"Bryant will wish for Tom Thibodeau to free himself from Chicago. He loves Jeff Van Gundy, and shares management’s affinity for Euro legend Ettore Messina, who spent a season on Mike Brown’s staff.Bryant has long admired Byron Scott, but there’s a different ex-Lakers guard who could go much further to regenerate the franchise’s culture and hold the insight into getting the most out of Bryant’s final two seasons: Derek Fisher."
Unfortunately for Bryant, it is highly unlikely that Thibodeau would step down from his position from the Bulls. Sure, there has been some tension in the front office, but Thibodeau to Los Angels is nothing more than a pipe dream at this point.
As Wojnarowski suggests, Derek Fisher is one of the most likely candidates and he could re-energize an aging Kobe as the Lakers look to rebound from the worst eseason of his career.