Kobe Bryant says Lakers' instability hurting free agency efforts

SAN ANTONIO >> Even as he collected NBA championships and set endless records, Kobe Bryant viewed the Spurs from afar with some envy.

Though Bryant won five of his NBA championships during a three-peat (2000-2002) and back-to-back run (2009, 2010), he also experienced three missed playoff appearances and played for seven different coaches. Meanwhile, the Spurs won five NBA titles, all with Gregg Popovich coaching and Tim Duncan dominating without missing the playoffs.

Bryant traced that consistency to Popovich and the Spurs front office, which he likened to the New England Patriots.

“They’re very clear on what the identity is of this team,” Bryant said. “They’re very clear on what they stand for and represent. They’re very clear on the style of player they want to have.”

And the Lakers?

“We’ve had changes,” Bryant said. “We had Dr. Buss passing away. We’ve had Jeanie and Jim [Buss]. We had Phil [Jackson] coming and going. We had all those things going on. As a result, we had the system changing as well. There’s a lot of inconsistency.”

So much, Bryant argued, that it played a primary factor in the Lakers missing out on marquee free agents in the past three seasons, including San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge.

“I don’t need to be a genius to figure that out,” said Bryant, who has dismissed criticism about the two-year, $48.5 million extension he signed in 2013. “If you’re a player and you want to win a championship, you have to go to a place that already has those things established and already knows what they’re doing and there’s no confusion. They know the direction the ship is going.”

Still, Bryant stressed he “never had that personal rivalry” on ensuring he had more championships than Duncan. But if Bryant played amid more stable circumstances, would he have won more titles?

“I wonder that, just for fun,” Bryant said. “But I can’t sit here and complain. I’ve eaten plenty well. So I can’t complain there isn’t any dessert left.”

High expectations

Just as Bryant’s career has drawn closer to the end, D’Angelo Russell’s jouey has just started.

The Lakers’ rookie point guard has experienced a whirlwind amid hype as the team’s No. 2 draft pick, losing his starting position and sitting out frequently during the closing minutes.

“I thought he’d probably be a little bit further,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “At 19 years old, I always take that into consideration.”

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Russell and Scott then shared a humorous exchange in front of reporters that captured what Scott described as a “playful relationship with Russell.” After a reporter observed Russell had made several consecutive 3-pointers, Scott told Russell to tell the media what he had said earlier.

“You said, ‘You love how I make shots in practice.” Russell said.

Scott then rolled his eyes and said, “Quit lying.”

Russell added, “Then you said, ‘Why don’t you make so many in the game?”

Russell has done that at times. But he has averaged 12.1 points on only 41.1 percent shooting. His assists (3.3) are nearly identical as his tuovers (2.4). Scott has also wanted more from Russell on defense.

“I still see him progressing,” Scott said. “But I was hoping that he’d be a tad further along.”

Scott plans to start Russell after NBA All-Star weekend (Feb. 12-14). But Scott said the two have not talked about that issue.

“He’s not old enough for me to have a meeting and discuss, ‘What do you think?’” Scott said.

A meeting only took place last week when Scott became pleasantly surprised that Russell argued he does not deserve a starting spot amid his recent struggles.

“I asked him, Why would you say that?’” Scott said. “He said, ‘I don’t with the way I’ve been playing lately.’ That’s self-policing. I thought it was good he felt that way. He knows he has to continue to work and get better. When he gets that opportunity to start again, hopefully he takes full advantage of it.”

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