Kobe Bryant is a difficult man to impress.
Although the Los Angeles Lakers star guard upgraded his performance during Sunday's 106-94 loss to the Toronto Raptors from an "F" to a "D," he revealed that he wasn't impressed with the Lakers' surprising 10-9 start in his absence.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Bryant dismissed questions about his return disrupting team chemistry.
"Chemistry will be fine. It's not like we were gangbusters before," he said. "Guys know how to play. We'll be fine."
Bryant apparently forgot - or didn't care - that the Lakers' star-studded lineup last season that included him, center Dwight Howard, forward Pau Gasol and forward Antawn Jamison started the season 9-10.
This year's cast of Gasol, Nick Young and Xavier Henry got off to a better start without the All-Star performers.
Bryant's game Sunday was his first since he tore the Achilles' tendon in his left foot on April 12. After surgery, he has spent the last eight months rehabbing before his appearance against the Raptors at Staples Center.
It was a game that the Lakers were favored by six points. Bryant had nine points on 2-of-9 shooting, four assists, two steals and eight turnovers in 28 minutes.
Immediately after the game, Bryant gave himself a failing grade, ESPN.com reported.
"I failed miserably at that," Bryant said after revealing that his personal expectation for his debut was to avoid turnovers. "That was really the biggest thing for me, just trying to take care of the basketball, because I know I'm going to be in charge of making some decisions out there. ... Basketballwise, I'm not happy."
On Monday, he upgraded himself one letter.
"It wasn't as bad as I thought it was," Bryant said after a light practice Monday morning. "A few turnovers and things like that. A lot of it was just mistiming. Made some pretty good reads, got my guys some pretty good looks."
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
