Lakers coach Byron Scott: ‘Not an option’ to bench Kobe Bryant

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott said it is “not an option” to bench Kobe Bryant.

Despite veteran Kobe Bryant’s poor performance this season, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott will not bench Bryant, reports Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com

“I would never, never, never do that,” Scott said. “That's not an option whatsoever. No, that's not an option.”

Bryant, 37, has recorded a career-worst 31.1 shooting percent from the field and 19.5 percent from 3-point range so far this season. 

On Tuesday, Bryant told reporters that he wasn’t concerned about his personal performance as much as he is focused on the team improving as a whole.

• Kobe Bryant: ‘If something doesn’t change, this is it for me’

“My shooting will be better,” Bryant said after Tuesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. “I could’ve scored 80 tonight. It wouldn’t have made a damn difference. We just have bigger problems.”

The 20-year-veteran is in the final year of his contract with the Lakers and is a five-time NBA champion and 17-time All Star.