Ex-Laker Reveals How Kobe Bryant Didn't Respect Young Teammates At End Of Career

The late Kobe Bryant was one of the most dedicated winners in sports history, and he would stop at nothing to reach his goals. It helped him win five NBA titles and countless other accomplishments throughout his career.

But toward the end of his historic playing days, Bryant was forced to be on some pretty awful Lakers teams. He was hurt for some of it, but most of his teammates were younger guys, who didn't have the talent or will to be great like he did.

Former Lakers guard Lou Williams revealed that Bryant wasn't too fond of his younger teammates in the later stages of his career.

“When I first got there it was kind of weird cause he wasn’t around. I was playing with my peeps and then he got healthy and the everything changed. Like the environment changed, I feel like the air changed. He just came in and it was like alright order in the court.”

Per Lou Williams via

Podcast P with Paul George

Bryant demanded excellence from everyone on his team, and some didn't always take too kindly to it. But he spent considerably more time on going at the young guys, who he deemed unfit to play alongside him.

"It was just the young guys. I was bulletproof. Brandon Bass was bulletproof. Metta World was bulletproof. Nick ya know, he poked the bear. I just remember him telling the young guys when I’m in the front office next year, I’m trading all you motherf**kers."

Per Lou Williams via

Podcast P with Paul George

Bryant even went as far as to remove his own brand's shoes from the lockers of his young teammates.

“Kobe think y’all soft man, he don’t want y’all wearing his shoes.”

Per Lou Williams via

Podcast P with Paul George

There have been rumors about how Bryant was as a teammate, and while these stories are a little harsh, they showed the commitment to excellence that he had. He didn’t accept mediocrity, and the losing at the end likely hurt him on the inside, but there was only so much he could do.

Bryant remains one of the best players of all time and one of the most decorated members of the Lakers history. These old stories from players are always great to hear, even when they paint Bryant in a different light.

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