Updated 06:37 AM EDT, Fri, Mar 29, 2024

Lakers News and Rumors: Kobe Bryant Speaks With Jim Buss, Confident Lakers Will Bounce Back Next Season

  • +
  • -
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE

Kobe Bryant has been calling out the Los Angeles Lakers' front office to make improvements this offseason, and the superstar guard revealed that he recently sat down with executive vice president Jim Buss.

After being ruled out for the remainder of the season, Bryant said that he expects major changes this summer, and changes should start from their team executives, he said—referring to the alleged strained relationship between Jim and Jeanie Buss.

Bryant's comments reportedly prompted Jim Buss to arrange a meeting between Bryant and Lakers team executives about the team's direction moving forward.

"I feel like I bleed purple and gold and I want to see this franchise be successful," Bryant told ESPN Los Angeles. "I don't want to hear the comments of dissension between Jim and Jeanie Buss. We need to figure this thing out. We're all moving in the same direction."

The 35-year-old superstar, who signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension in November, is confident that team executives won't let the Lakers become cellar dwellers for the next few seasons.

However, Bryant insisted once again that he will not wait for the Lakers to rebuild over the next few years, reiterating that he wants immediate results next season.

"This organization is just not going to go [down]," Bryant said. "It's not going to take a nose dive. But I think we need to accelerate it a little bit for selfish reasons, because I want to win and I want to win next season. So, it's kind of getting them going now as opposed to two years from now."

The Lakers, who currently hold a 23-46 record, will likely miss the playoffs this year for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

The current Lakers squad are also on pace to finish with worst record in franchise history, eclipsing the 30-52 futility mark in the 1974-75 season.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban recently said that the Lakers will not be the same Lakers as before without the late Dr. Jerry Buss, but Bryant said that Jim and Jeannie Buss will eventually figure it out.

"You can't lead the way Dr. Buss did. Because Jeanie is different. Jimmy, who is running basketball operations, is different," Bryant said. "So they have to find their rhythm and get in sync with each other and figure out exactly what their leadership style is going to be."

© 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
  • Sign up to receive the lastest news from LATINONE
Close

Curiosidades

Real Time Analytics