Is Kobe Bryant's loud mouth to blame for free agents avoiding the Los Angeles Lakers the last three offseasons?
The Lakers once again entered the free agency period hoping to lure in some of the game's biggest names, but were spurned, possibly due to the intimidation factor of playing alongside the intense Bryant.
The five-time NBA champion's former teammate, Jordan Hill, recently discussed what it was like playing on the court with a vocal Bryant.
"When he's on the floor, it's like [exhales], all you hear is Kobe's mouth," Hill, who joined the Lakers in 2012 and played with Bryant for three seasons, told reporters when introduced by the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, according to ESPN.
Bryant has received a lot of criticisms for his aggressiveness and the noise he makes on the court. Hill wasn't speaking about Bryant in a negative or positive light, but rather just portraying his experience with the superstar.
"He's on the floor, all you hear is Kobe's mouth, like during practice and games, it get loud. It get loud," Hill said. "A lot of people can't handle that, I guess."
Bryant, who is rumored to retire at the end of next season when his contract expires, said that he may turn some players off and the Lakers may see a lot of roster turnover, but he isn't going to change who he is or how he plays.
"Friends can come and go, but banners hang forever," Bryant said.
The next banner may elude Bryant as once again Los Angeles has had a tough offseason when it comes to reeling in free agents.
The Lakers set a franchise record for losses with 55 in 2013-14 and they then set the bar for futility even lower in 2014-15, finishing with a 21-61 mark.
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