Lakers' Byron Scott: Kobe Bryant to play 30-40 minutes per game

Lakers head coach Byron Scott said he and guard Kobe Bryant have agreed on a how many minutes he will play this season, but refused to give that information.

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott said he and guard Kobe Bryant have agreed on how many minutes he will play this season, but refused to say what the exact number is.

Bryant only played six games last season because of a knee injury, but has racked up 54,208 total minutes in his career, an average of 36.6 minutes per game. Only four players in NBA history have played more minutes than Bryant.

"His number was lower than mine," Scott said, according to ESPN.com. "That surprised me. It helped me as well."

Scott said Bryant would play between 30 and 40 minutes each game, but did not say if he would sit out and back-to-back games. The Lakers have 16 back-to-back games this season, tied for the fewest in the NBA along with the Miami Heat.

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"He wants to play every game," Scott said. "He wants to play every preseason game and every regular-season game."

The Lakers open their season at home against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 28.

​- Scooby Axson