Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant doesn't fault the team for being unable to sign a big-name free agent this past summer. He also reiterated his loyalty to the franchise, dismissing the suggestion by some that he should play out his final years for a championship-contending team.
In 2007, Bryant made headlines for demanding a trade after the Lakers failed to be aggressive in free agency. The demand was dropped after general manager acquired Pau Gasol. Although Los Angeles failed to sign a big-name free agent such as LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, Bryant admitted he had no qualms with how Kupchak approached free agency in the summer.
"It was real tough to land those free agents just because of the opportunities that they had," Bryant said, via Yahoo Sports. "You got 'Melo going back to New York, LeBron going back home to Cleveland. The odds just weren't in our favor. But I took comfort in the fact that the Lakers did absolutely everything possible to make it happen. Absolutely everything possible.
"We offered Pau an incredible deal. I saw them put the work in. It's much different than in 2007 when I felt like they were just sitting on their hands. This is not that case. They were going after it and being aggressive. I will fight for that till the end. They tried, tried and tried and it didn't work out. I stand behind them 110 percent. I bled purple and gold."
Bryant acknowledged he's heard that he should play for a title-contending team, but it's something he has never considered seriously.
"I hear the chatter of Kobe should ask out and he should go and play for a contender in this latter stage of his career," he said. "But that's not what I do. I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers. I believe in fighting through the tough times as well as enjoying the good times. It's my responsibility to get us to be the best that we can be. It's important that we approach that on a day-to-day basis."
Los Angeles is 0-4 to start the season. Despite the team's overall struggles, Bryant has still been productive on the court, averaging 24.8 points per game.
