EL SEGUNDO — Kobe Bryant met with Phil Jackson and Mitch Kupchak today — as did most of his teammates — in his annual season-ending interview. And it was apparent that Bryant is now more excited about the Lakers’ future than distraught over what just passed.
“Boston played better; they played more physical than we did,” Bryant said. “At the same time, you look around at our roster: They’re kids. They’re young kids. We managed to do something I don’t think anybody expected us to do. It’s a great learning opportunity for them at a young age to come back next year knowing what to expect, how to perform and what the goal is. And we’ll be fine.”
But Bryant already has told teammate Pau Gasol that his Spanish team is in for a rough Olympics with a hungry Bryant leading Team USA.
This is what Bryant told Gasol: “Being that we lost this series, you (guys) have no chance at a gold medal. I ain’t goin’ 0 for 2, homie.”
