Stretching the Field: Kobe doing his best to motivate

Dec 12, 2014 - 6:30 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Foley is arguably the best motivational speaker of this generation.

Foley does his preparation in a van down by the river.

Kobe Bryant knows how to light a fire under those who are willing to listen, only he constructs his case on the basketball court.

Because he's Kobe Bryant, there are zero repercussions when he calls his Los Angeles Lakers teammates soft or berates them with expletives that would make Ralphie Parker's father cringe (Yes, A Christmas Story reference).

You see, Parker's father worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. Bryant behaves in similar fashion when he wants to motivate.

He's Kobe Bryant. He can do that. And if anyone has the audacity to question the five-time champion and 16-time All-Star, they better be ready for a challenge.

Bryant put on a show in Thursday's practice and vehemently expressed displeasure with words that belong in an R-rated movie or the mouth of a sailor. He described them as "Charmin" or soft like the name-brand toilet paper, and knows the 2014-15 season has been in the toilet with a 6-16 record.

There's still a chance to revive the season, but it doesn't appear possible even with a spry Bryant in the twilight of his career.

Wearing practice gear and talking with a swagger, Bryant sorts through defenders toward the hoop: gawkers to one side; wannabe defenders, curious onlookers and more amazed teammates on the other.

More teammates and coaches watch elsewhere, impressed he still has it. Bryant, who said he enjoys practice more than the game unlike former Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson, thrives on testing his teammates.

"I just challenge guys, see what happens," Bryant said Thursday. "I always believed in throwing them in the pool and seeing if they can sink or swim."

The only one swimming is Bryant and it has to be difficult for the future Hall of Famer with nobody else around him. Any so-called basketball expert knew the Lakers would struggle coming into the season. Jeremy Lin has been benched, veteran point guard Steve Nash and talented rookie Julius Randle are done for the season and Jordan Hill is the second leading scorer with 13.0 points per game behind Bryant's 25.5 ppg.

Carlos Boozer is now coming off the bench and is third with 12.5 ppg.

Bryant can fire up, insult or compliment his teammates as much as possible, and it's not going to reflect in the standings. He recently had breakfast with Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, leading many to speculate whether Bryant is courting the assist machine.

Let's face it, the Lakers would still struggle with Rondo on the team unless the NBA decided on a whim to send Los Angeles to the Eastern Conference. Perhaps Lakers legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson has a point when he said the team should tank the season.

"I hope the Lakers lose every game," Johnson said. "Because if you're going to lose, lose. And I'm serious. If you're going to lose, you've got to lose, because you can't be in the middle of the pack. You either have to be great, or you've got to be bad to get a good pick."

Johnson should mind his own business and remain focused on improving the Dodgers. He has the right to his own opinion and should keep it quiet.

Time is running out for Bryant and who knows how many years remain for the "Black Mamba." He can still score and is proving that on a nightly basis, and is also a great teacher, leader and mentor. Bryant said Thursday's practice was good because he not only let his teammates know how he felt, but he spilled some secrets on how to score and defend.

The Lakers should be soaking up any tidbit of information Bryant shares.

"I think he just did a great job of getting everybody else fired up," Lakers first-year head coach Byron Scott said. "He's always fired up. That's the great thing about him. He's such a competitor. Like I said, when he comes out and he practices, the intensity level in practice goes sky-high. And he challenges guys. It's what you should do. Today, (the reserves) responded by getting their butt kicked."

Scott went on to say Bryant brings out the best in guys, including trash- talker and reserve guard Nick Young, who went back-and-forth with Bryant during the heated practice. Whether it pays off Friday night in San Antonio remains to be seen. Los Angeles will start a three-game trip against the defending champion Spurs.

"We know it's going to be a tough trip. Anytime you open with San Antonio, it's going to be tough," Scott said.

Bryant said he can't do the same things he used to because of his body. He has been limited in practice to rest for games, which is why Thursday was an important lesson for the Lakers at this stage. Bryant doesn't know if his appearance at practice will help the Lakers or raise the intensity level.

Perhaps watching Bryant pass Hall of Famer Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's all-time scoring list will be more than enough motivation. The Lakers are last in opponents' scoring at 110.1 ppg and will soon have two players in the top three in scoring. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928) and Jordan (32,292) are the top three scorers with Bryant (32,262) 31 points shy of passing his idol.

Bryant was asked to compare himself with Air Jordan.

"I think we're both cursed with the obsession of trying to be the best that we can. It's a blessing and a curse at the same time," Bryant said. "I think we're both very similar in that regard."

The biggest difference between the two, according to Bryant, is that he had to play both shooting and point guard. Bryant was jealous of Jordan having Scottie Pippen for a teammate.

Bryant reflected on what it will be like to pass MJ.

"It's a huge honor to be here in this position. I can't believe I've scored that many points especially from where my career started," he said. "It's a huge honor. It wasn't something I thought about growing up as a kid. It was championships."

Being one of the top three scorers with former Lakers center Abdul-Jabbar is the "coolest thing" for Bryant. Passing his hero Jordan was never a thought.

"It wasn't a goal that I set out to accomplish. Being in that company with Michael and Kareem and the other great scorers, I think that's most fun part," Bryant said. "Being a part of that group I grew up idolizing and learning from and aspiring to be one day, that's the true honor in it."

There's honor in losing, too. And the Lakers are doing plenty of it.

Bryant may have said passing Jordan on the scoring list was never a goal and winning championships outweighs statistics. However, the next 31 points he posts will strengthen his case as the best to ever play.