Kobe Bryant is still getting back into the swing of things after an injury-plagued season, Nick Young is still recovering from a thumb injury, and the team is dealing with the season-long absence of Steve Nash. It could be a little while yet until the Lakers really get into a groove.
What kind of impact will the aforementioned trio of players have on the team's fortunes this season? Here's a look at some interesting tidbits of information that recently surfaced around the Web.
Duncan over Kobe?
Bryant was drafted in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft, and Tim Duncan was selected No. 1 a year later. Both have produced impeccable careers and will go down as two of the greatest of all time. However, there has been some recent debate regarding which player has been more valuable for his team.
According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports, one general manager is definitely leaning toward Duncan:
It's almost impossible to compare the values of these players to their respective teams. After all, Duncan's role in San Antonio is far different that Bryant's in Los Angeles. Both are asked to do far different things on both ends of the court, so statistical comparisons make little sense.
This year, though, it's been easy to make a case for Bryant. He's been the team's leader for a number of years, but he's taking on a mentor role for some of the younger players in 2014. General manager Mitch Kupchak had some glowing praise for the guard's leadership ability during an interview with Time Warner Cable SportsNet (via LakersNation.com).
Said Kupchak: "I think [Bryant...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
