Kobe Bryant’s first shot since shoulder surgery ended his 2014-15 campaign some nine months ago was a brick that ricocheted off the backboard Sunday night … so he tried again.
Mamba back… @kobebryant gets in the scoring column on @NBATV in @Lakers preseason action. (Vine by @NBA) https://t.co/RBD312blo1
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 5, 2015
The Black Mamba made a baseline three-pointer and finished with five points in limited playing time, as the Utah Jazz took home a 90-71 preseason win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant was more interested in discussing the development of his young teammates than his own game.
Per the OC Register:
Bryant played 12 minutes in his first game since undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. And while the Lakers lost, 90-71, to the Utah Jazz and Bryant scored just five points on 1-of-6 shooting, Coach Byron Scott deemed his star’s debut a success. […] “Today was the first game he’s played in a long time,” Scott said. “(It was good) just to get his feet wet and get him back out there and get some of the rust off.”
Bryant, however, had little interest in assessing his own game, repeating softly that it “felt good.” […] Of D’Angelo Russell, the point guard selected No. 2 overall in the draft, Bryant said, “His vision is astronomical, man.” […] On Julius Randle, who played in his first game since breaking his leg in last year’s regular-season opener: “I think he’s an animal, man. He’s competitive, extremely athletic and strong as a bull. That’s a great combination to work from.”
Scott told Bryant before the game that he was going to let the 37-year-old, who is in his 20th season with the Lakers, play the entirety of the first quarter and sit him for the rest of the night. […] “Tuesday I’ll probably play him a little bit more,” Scott said. “So I’m excited about that.”
