Lakers: Kobe Told Byron Scott About Retirement Mid-Game
Kobe Bryant reportedly told Byron Scott he was going to retire during a game a day before the announcement
Kobe Bryant shocked the NBA world and fans of the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday when he announced that he would be retiring after the 2015-16 season. Days later, it’s still something that hits home for numerous fans. However, it was his head coach in Byron Scott that was the first to know.
While that may not be shocking news that Kobe told his coach before anyone else, how he told Scott is a bit curious. As it turns out, Bryant told Scott about his decision to walk away after this season the day before the actual announcement went public on The Players’ Tribune.
It was during the Lakers’ matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers this past Saturday when, according to an interview with Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Scott was talking to Kobe about his minutes in the first half. Byron told Bryant that he was going to cut back those minutes, which was when Kobe responded that it was fine because he was going to announce his retirement after the game.
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Bryant’s in-game revelation obviously stunned Scott in the moment, but the head coach said that the most stunning part of it all was how “casual” Kobe was when he dropped one of the biggest bombshells the NBA has heard in quite some time.
Kobe wasn’t bluffing either as he indeed did announce his pending retirement the very next day. However, now both he and Scott have a moment that both the Lakers legend and the head coach will certainly never forget.