Report: NBA Agents Blame Kobe Bryant For Lakers Downfall

Anonymous NBA agents blame Kobe Bryant for much of the Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles over the past few years.

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After ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant as the 40th best player in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers star already had a vendetta against the Worldwide Leader. Now it appears he may have another as a report from Henry Abbott recounts views from anonymous NBA scouts who suggest Kobe Bryant is the reason behind the Los Angeles Lakers struggles.

Speaking to a variety of current and previous agents (some of whom represent current players on the Los Angeles Lakers roster), Bryant is harpooned as the reason why the franchise has failed to bring in star talent after Shaquille O’Neal left the franchise.

Here’s just a small peppering of what some of the agents had to say.

"“Peek behind the banners,” says one longtime NBA agent, “and it’s rotten.”“Kobe is like the big rock in their front yard,” says an agent who has had a Lakers client in recent years. “You can’t mow over it, so you just have to mow around it.”Another agent with current Lakers clients was asked whether Bryant undermined the team’s rebuilding by alienating would-be free agent recruits. “Well, duh,” he replied. “Isn’t that obvious?”"

Ouch.

It’s well known that Kobe Bryant hasn’t always been the easiest teammate to play alongside as his rather gruff personality can turn a player off, though it seems a little over the top to put this much emphasis on Bryant being the essential lone reason for the Los Angeles Lakers falling from grace.

Hell, if you wanted to blame Kobe Bryant for something, it would probably be his albatross of a salary which makes building a roster incredibly difficult. Still, there could be some truth to what some of the anonymous NBA agents are saying but there are likely two sides to every story.

Anonymous NBA agents blame Kobe Bryant for much of the Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles over the past few years.

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