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Kobe Bryant Says He’s Not Recruiting Kevin Durant… Yet

By Sam Richmond

January 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kobe Bryant is not recruiting Kevin Durant to come to the Los Angeles Lakers right now, but didn’t rule out the possibility of him doing so in the future.

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant will be a free agent in two years and surely just about every NBA team will be doing whatever they can to get their hands on the young NBA superstar. Among the teams expected to pursue KD: the Los Angeles Lakers.

Undoubtedly Lakers star Kobe Bryant recruiting Durant would be helpful towards Los Angeles landing KD. And while Bryant told ESPN he’s not recruit Durant now, he didn’t close the door on him doing so at some point.

"“No, I think we know each other pretty well,” Bryant said Thursday at the Lakers’ practice facility here, leading into Friday’s game between the Thunder (12-13) and Lakers (8-17) at Staples Center.“I don’t think it’s a discussion that you have in terms of coming here. But I think it’s more of an understanding how to play with each other.”Said Bryant, “If the opportunity came up, then that’s the time to have that discussion.”"

Durant is known to have great respect for Bryant, with the 2014 NBA MVP recently telling USA Today that he wouldn’t mind playing with Bryant.

Still, even knowing that, and understanding that Kobe’s recruiting would help the Lakers, it’s hard to imagine KD heading to Los Angeles. Bryant would be 38 at the start of the 2016-17 season and it’s hard to imagine Durant hitching his wagon to a player of that age, assuming Bryant will even still be playing then.

Durant is averaging 22.4 points and five rebounds per game this season. Bryant is averaging 25.2 points and five boards as well.

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