Bryant endorses addition of Nash
By Elliott Teaford | eteaford@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: July 6, 2012 at 12:00 am | UPDATED: August 30, 2017 at 8:54 am
Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant said Friday he was looking forward to playing with newly acquired point guard Steve Nash next season and spoke about what the two-time NBA MVP can do for the Lakers' offense, which bogged down spectacularly at times last season.
Bryant also said during an ESPN interview he hoped center Dwight Howard would do what's best for him as he attempts to orchestrate a trade from the Magic, including possibly to the Lakers.
Bryant spoke from Las Vegas where he began workouts with the U.S. Olympic team. Of playing with Nash, Bryant said:
"I'm very excited. We all know what a phenomenal player he is and how intelligent he is and what he brings to the table with his shooting and playmaking ability, I'm excited.
"He's going to space the floor. He's such a phenomenal shooter and then his ability to make plays for others is second to none, really. So we'll be able to get up and down the floor and, hopefully, get more easy baskets than we have in the past.
"We won't have to grind as much as we did in the past in terms of getting good shots in the half court."
Bryant, asked if he wants the Lakers to acquire Howard, said: "I want what's best for him. We've kind of established a relationship with all the guys during the '08 Olympic team.
"I want him to do what he feels is best for him and what's going to make him happy and, hopefully, bring him a great amount of success, individually as well as winning titles."
Bryant said Team USA certainly could use Howard's size and strength later this month at the London Olympics. Howard is sidelined after undergoing back surgery in April, leaving the Americans undersized at center.
"The teams we will be facing all have a great amount of size," Bryant said. "They know how to use their size. They're very physical. They're strong in the paint. We're missing a lot by not having Dwight, not having Chris (Bosh, who also is hurt), not having Lamar (Odom, who declined an invitation to attend training camp)."
Elliott Teaford
Elliott Teaford covers the Anaheim Ducks for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He covered the Ducks for 12 years, including the Stanley Cup season, for the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Breeze before returning to the beat in 2018 for SCNG. He also covered the Lakers for five seasons, including their back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and '10. He once made a jump shot over future Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton during a pickup game in 1980 at Cypress College.