Kobe Bryant reacts to Julius Randle being drafted by Lakers

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant speaks during a press conference before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant speaks during a press conference before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kobe Bryant was absent for a good majority of last season for the Los Angeles Lakers, and therefore the team had a miserable season. It was miserable enough that they were able to get a top 10 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft; and with that pick, they selected the stud freshman forward out of Kentucky, Julius Randle.

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While Randle will need a lot of time to develop his game, he showed during his one season at Kentucky that he’s more than capable of doing that, so you have to wonder just how much better he can get playing with Bryant and whomever the next head coach of the team will be.

After the pick was made, Bryant seemed very pleased with the direction the team had gone in selecting Randle to man the paint on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.


This pairing definitely has the potential to get the Lakers back on the right track in the Western Conference, and you can tell that Bryant knows that.

Also, there’s the possibility that the team and Bryant can lure either LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony out west to join the rebuilding process.

Actually, after the selection of Randle, should one of the stars head that way, it really wouldn’t be a rebuild–it would be a reload.