Kobe Bryant insisted he didn’t even realize he was gunning for the record for most missed field goals in NBA history when he entered Tuesday night’s 107-102 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Yet moments later, Bryant seemed to have automatic recall when it came to remembering if any one of his 13,421 misses career misses stand out to him anymore than any of the others.
“Yeah, all the ones where I’ve had to bail the team out at the end of the shot clock,” he said. “It annoys the crap out of me. Kills my field goal percentage.”
On a night when he finished with a game-high 28 points, yet shot just 10-26, Bryant had to again being lamenting how his this year’s Lakers’ offense always seems to be calling on the aging, 36-year-old veteran to do virtually the impossible.
With their 107-102 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, L.A. fell to just 1-6 with New Orleans, San Antonio, Golden State, Atlanta, Houston and Dallas all looming on their schedule over the next ten days.
Whatever happens, Bryant seems focused on remaining who he is. When asked his thoughts about now owning a record of such dubious distinction, Bryant responded “well, I’m a shooting guard that’s played 19 years. Like I said, ‘shooting’ guard, 19th year. I don’t care about it, to be honest with you. It is what it is.”
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Bryant has now misfired on at least 20 shots in 44 games, the fourth most in NBA history.
“You’ve got to step up and play, man,” said Bryant. “You can’t worry about criticism. You can’t worry about failure. You really can’t worry about that stuff.You’ve got to go out and figure that out and play and do the best you can, and whatever happens, happens. You can’t be held captive by the fear of failure or the fear of what people may say.”
[Photo Credit: Swoosh Kid]