LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant has been angry with his recent performance for the team and on Monday the future Hall of Fame player was given the day off at practice by head coach Byron Scott. The Lakers are 0-3 to start the season and Julius Randle has been impressive, while rookie D'Angelo Russell may have a new girlfriend in Kendall Jenner.
Bryant has struggled to start the season and so has the team overall, as the Lakers are winless through three games. The team has the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night and the Lakers will be looking to get into the win column with that matchup. Bryant said he is "angry" with his recent performance and he added that "I freaking suck," according to ESPN. Scott said he gave Bryant the day off to get his head out of basketball for a day and that it could help him come in "fresh" for the game on Tuesday.
Bryant is only shooting 31 percent from the floor this season and is averaging 17 points through three games. Bryant had a tough game against the Mavericks on Sunday, missing 12 of his 15 shots and he only had 15 points. Scott said that he has no issue with Bryant's play or his shot selection and that it is "very early" to start worrying about things. Scott said the Lakers are a young team and they expected some struggles early in the season, especially with Bryant coming back after missing games last year.
Scott said that the team is confident in Bryant and rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell said that the team is "going to keep feeding him," according to ESPN. Scott added that he is not looking to limit the minutes for Bryant yet and that the team will consider sitting him when they start having back to backs, but they are not up to that point in the schedule yet. Last season Bryant played in 35 games for the Lakers and averaged 22 points per game while shooting 37 percent overall from the field. While it wasn't for a full season, that was his lowest number since coming into the league.
Julius Randle has been impressing for the Lakers so far this season and he comes in after his best game of his short career on Sunday. Randle had a career high 22 points and also had 15 rebounds against the Mavericks while playing 34 minutes. Randle previously had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the opener against the Wolves and now he has a double-double in two of three games this season. Randle was a disaster against the Kings with one point and two rebounds in 15 minutes played, but he still is young and will have some dud games.
Speaking of young players, rookie Larry Nance and D'Angelo Russell were both in the news this week but for very different reasons. According to NBA.com, Nance broke his nose during practice after getting hit by Randle and he is questionable for the game Tuesday. Russell on the other hand is reportedly dating reality TV star Kendall Jenner, according to NESN.com. The report says the two met this summer and have "recently began dating."
