Lakers’ Kobe Bryant disses himself, says he’s 200th best player in NBA

Kobe Bryant isn’t too happy with his play this season for the Los Angeles Lakers. He told reporters: “I’m the 200th best player in the league right now. I freaking suck.”

Kobe Bryant’s 20th season with the Los Angeles Lakers hasn’t gone according to plan.

So much so, the five-time NBA champion had to let reporters know how badly he was playing after L.A.’s 103–93 home loss against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

“I’m the 200th best player in the league right now,” Bryant said, in a video posted to Lakers.com. “I freaking suck.”

The comment is interesting given that Bryant has responded in the past to player rankings. Sports Illustratedranked Bryant as its 54th NBA player entering this season.

Bryant, never afraid to speak his mind, also admitted after a 123–114 loss against the Sacramento Kings on Friday that he would step back and defer to his younger teammates like second overall pick D’Angelo Russell and 2014 first-rounder Julius Randle. 

• JENKINS: Class in Session: Bryant among stars acting as mentors

While Randle led the Lakers on Sunday with 22 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and four steals, Bryant scored 15 points on 3-of-15 shooting in 31 minutes. Bryant’s per-game stats surely aren’t what he expected this season: 17.3 points, 1.7 assists, 17 field-goal attempts, 31% shooting (20% from three) and -7.9.

Los Angeles hosts the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night before embarking on a five-game road trip.

You can watch highlights of the Lakers’ loss here:

- Adam Pincus