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Kupchak on Bryant's Impact

The basketball world has been abuzz Sunday with news that Kobe Bryant will retire at the end of this season.

Like head coach Byron Scott, General Manager Mitch Kupchak spoke with the media before the Lakers’ game against Indiana to reflect on Bryant’s career and final year in purple and gold.

Q: On his reaction to Bryant’s announcement:
Kupchak:
I’m not surprised. The surprising part about this is that he made the announcement today. My understanding all along was that this was going to be his last year. Certainly there’s been speculation, and this puts an end to any speculation that he may come back for another year. But it was my understanding all along.

Q: On if he has been operating as GM under the pretense that Bryant would not be returning:
Kupchak:
That’s true. Having said that, it’s difficult to predict the future. Now that we don’t have to deal with speculation and try to predict what may or may not happen for the remainder of the year, we know with certainty what our (salary) cap situation will be should we decide not to do anything until July 1. That part of it’s clear and certain.

Q: On why he thinks now was the right time for Bryant to do this:
Kupchak:
We didn’t make it easier for him with the group we have on the court, and that’s not to say they’re not a talented group of players. But they’re certainly young and unaccomplished. And at an advanced age, I think we witnessed that it’s difficult to play this game. He’s certainly struggled to play at a tempo and pace that I think younger players and the game is playing today. I think under a certain system with motivation to contend, it might have been different. Maybe he wouldn’t be as frustrated — I shouldn’t use the word “frustrated,” because I don’t know if he is frustrated or not. I don’t think the game would be as hard for him as it appears it’s been for the last month.

Q: On balancing playing Bryant and allowing the young core to develop:
Kupchak:
It is awkward. It’s awkward, but there’s really no other way to go about it. When you have a player of Kobe’s caliber that wants to continue to play and you think he can play at a high level, you’re gonna let him play until he no longer wants to play. Yet, it’s clear that we had to begin the process to rebuild the team. We were hopeful that we would get off to a better start this year. We think we added a couple of veterans along with a bunch of young players. I thought that we would be better than two wins into the season. That’s not to say that we would be on pace to win 60 or 50 games, but I thought we’d be a little bit better. Clearly we’re not playing at the kind of level that a player of Kobe’s age and experience finds challenging. Kind of like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. So I’m not surprised that he would make the announcement now. I think the game will be easier for him now. I think he’ll be able to enjoy the rest of the season. We haven’t had a chance to huddle up to see if we’ll use him any differently in terms of minutes. I don’t think that’ something that’s going to be decided today. But since he has made it clear this is the last season for him, I think it’ll be more enjoyable. And I think people will appreciate what he’s accomplished — not only in our building, which has always been with loads of love — but I think even mores so on the road.

Q: On whether he anticipates Bryant changing his approach to the game based on his shooting struggles:
Kupchak:
I gave up hoping that he would change his approach 15 or 18 years ago. … He is what he is, and I’m thankful for it.

Q: On when he found out, and how he feels about it:
Kupchak:
This afternoon. And my son is a freshman in college right now. He’s going to be 20, and he was born on the night of Kobe’s first game, so I did not see Kobe’s first game. So that kind of puts it in perspective. Twenty years. I have a son who’s a freshman in college. That’s how long he’s been playing.

Q: On what Bryant has meant to the franchise:
Kupchak:
It is impossible for me to sit here and describe what he’s meant. Five championships, 20 years, 17 All-Star Games, an MVP trophy. I’ve watched him get hurt, play hurt. We’ve watched the last three years with serious injuries; having him come back when most players would not come back. It’s hard to describe in two or three minutes, but he’s a winner. And he came into this league with an unprecedented desire to compete and succeed and be the best. And he remains that exact same person today. And that’s with the goods and the bads that come with it. But he remains that exact same person.

Q: On Bryant trying to stay healthy with injuries over the past three seasons:
Kupchak:
When he tore his Achilles (in 2013), it took me totally by surprise. In fact, I thought it was a sprained ankle. … And he was 34 then. So it’s not that surprising to think that after a serious injury at (34) years old that your body has a way of compensating or under-compensating. If you hurt this leg then you lean more that way, and now that leg gets hurt, or your leg hurts your back. This is what (head athletic trainer) Gary Vitti tells me. So it’s not surprising that one injury would lead to another. Inactivity for half a year, then come back. There’s no way to duplicate an NBA game and he’s 37. How surprising can it be?

Q: On what role he wants to see Bryant play for the rest of the season:
Kupchak:
Not sure yet. Once again, this is something that was brought to my attention late this afternoon. I have not discussed it with ownership or our coaches yet. So I would hope that he has more fun and appears less frustrated and also gets more appreciation. He’ll get it at home, but on the road as well, because people now have to realize that this is his last year and they’re watching one of the all-time greats.

Q: On watching Bryant struggle this season:
Kupchak:
Like everyone else, I go back and forth. I’ve talked to Kobe about it, and he says it’s timing and getting his legs under him, conditioning and getting used to playing with different players. I buy in. … So I go back and forth on that.

Q:
Kupchak:
I played 10 years and was injured an awful lot. It is really hard to play even after 10 years. .You’ve got to deal with nagging injuries or ice backs or treatment and aches in your body, which doesn’t allow you to do what it once did. It’s hard enough to do it after 10 years. And it drove me, with a relatively average NBA carer, to retire. After 20 years, it’s something that I can’t comprehend. It’s twice as long as most people play. … When he should have been a freshman in college, he played 90 games. When he should have been a sophomore in college, he played over 90 games.