Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant won't get his wish as general manager Mitch Kupchak said despite the fact that the lines of communication are open, the five-time NBA champion won't have a say in who the team hires to replace Mike D'Antoni as coach.
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According to ESPN, Kupchak said that he'll keep the lines of communication open with Bryant, but Bryant won't have a say in who the team ultimately hires to replace D'Antoni, who resigned after his option for 2015-16 wasn't picked up.
"From time to time we ask his advice," Kupchak told ESPN' at the NBA Draft combine Thursday in Chicago. "He really won't weigh in on something like this. I'm not even sure that we'll talk to him prior to interviews. But from time to time, he is in our facility, I'll go downstairs and I'll talk to him about a bunch of different things."
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Bryant had said on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week that he wanted a say in who the team hires after the Lakers didn't consult him on the last two hires. Bryant wasn't very supportive of D'Antoni as he struggled to direct an injury-riddled Lakers team this season.
"On the last two they didn't," Bryant said, referring to former coaches Mike Brown and D'Antoni, both of whom didn't stay with the Lakers through the length of their contracts, according to ESPN. "On the third one, I'm hoping they do."
It doesn't look as though the 16-time NBA All-Star will get his wish. While Bryant won't have a final say in who the team hires, Kupchak is hopeful that he'll bounce back from an injury plagued season that limited Bryant to just six games this season.
"We don't have many players under contract right now. Fortunately, we did sign a good player back in November: Kobe Bryant. So, we have him to rely on. He's been working out every day at our facility. He looks good," Kupchak said via ESPN.
The Lakers will be looking to re-stock their team through the draft and free agency as they don't have many players under contract for next season. The team signed Bryant to a two-year $48.5 million extension during the season.
Los Angeles won't start the process of hiring a new coach until they realize what pick they have in the draft lottery.
The Lakers are looking to bounce back from a season that saw the team go a franchise-worst 27-55 and miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
L.A. is hoping to improve under a new head coach, but much to Bryant's chagrin he won't have any say on who they hire.
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