Given the Los Angeles Lakers poor situation it doesnt take much to get its fans enthused about a better future
Kevin Durant may have made their day
The Oklahoma City Thunder star who will become a free agent in the summer of 2016 praised Kobe Bryant for passing Michael Jordan for third place on the NBAs alltime scoring list and denied that other players dont want to play with him
Durant didnt address his own uncertain future but he argued that Bryants player perspective shouldnt hinder the 817 Lakers slow comeback
Excuse my language but thats expletive Durant texted Bryant after he passed Jordan on Sunday I want to play with a winner every night especially someone who wants to win bad works hard expects a lot and elevates your level Id want to play with him every day His manner how he acts and attitude to the game may make many uncomfortable but I adore it I think its BS
Last week video of Bryants postpractice rage at teammates and general manager Mitch Kupchak went viral reigniting the debate over his future
To some it reinforced his personality as a problem Others saw it as a glimpse inside a fivetime champions world of high expectations
Bryant has maintained that he will retire when his contract expires in the summer of 2016 However after recuperating from injuries that kept him out of the 2013 playoffs and limited him to six games last season the 36yearold may rethink if he can acquire the kind of aid that made the Lakers a winner again
Whether its Marc Gasol Kevin Love Rajon Rondo or LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency this summer or Durant in the offseason prospective Lakers are watching Bryants comeback hes third in the league in scoring at 252 points per game and wondering if theyd fit in Laker Land
Dwight Howards decision not to resign with the Lakers two summers ago was all about coach Mike DAntoni he wanted Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthonys decision to return to the New York Knicks last summer was clearly moneydriven the Knicks could offer a fiveyear deal while all other teams could only offer four
Durant thinks its absurd
Just his work ethic just his demeanour man Durant remarked of Bryant He works and doesnt mind being a expletive Hes intense Playing with him in the 2012 Olympics showed me how much he asks from his teammates He expects much from everyone Makes them better Everyone on the court That must be respected When I play I analyse such players Though we have different personalities I think we play the game similarly and have learnt a lot from him
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