Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career is winding to an end, and the general feeling around the league is that the Black Mamba will be missed. He’s been one of the best players in NBA history, and everybody will be sad to see him go, right? Wrong, says Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. From Robert Morales of Long Beach Press-Telegram:
L.A. Clippers coach Doc Rivers was only half-kidding when asked about Kobe Bryant’s impending retirement at the end of this season.
“I’m really happy about it,” said Rivers, whose team will play a back-to-back against the Lakers (16-60) on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Staples Center.
…
Will Rivers be sad to see him go?
“Not at all, not at all,” he said. “I’ll be very happy when Kobe retires. He’s inflicted pain on me personally and so I’m looking forward to it. Everybody else is lying. They’re saying, like, they want Kobe to keep playing and that’s not true. The guy, he’s inflicted pain on all of us.”
Rivers paused for a moment.
“On a serious note, it will be different not having him,” he said. “My son Spencer was 1, I think, when he (Bryant) came into the league. He’s still playing. It’s remarkable how long he’s played, how well he’s played and that part you’ll miss seeing. But I won’t actually miss him playing. No, I’m tired of seeing him play. He’s played too well.”
Rivers was coaching the Boston Celtics when his team defeated Bryant’s Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals, and also when they fell to those same Lakers in a re-match in 2010.
Rivers understands the effect Bryant has had on basketball better than anyone, and while he won’t be sad to see him go, he respect’s Kobe’s legacy.
