Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant will play as many minutes as he wants in final game

Published Apr. 8, 2016 8:00 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

It seemed kind of weird when Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott told reporters he was eyeing a minutes limit for Kobe Bryant on the road on Friday night.

Why now? Why not earlier this season, when it really could have made a difference?

But that's the wrong question; all those mistakes, sad as they are, add up to so much water under the bridge. The Lakers have to do right by Kobe for the rest of the season. That's what matters now, even if it's completely incongruous with their previous approach. That's especially true if Scott really plans to let Kobe do whatever he wants in that last game, where he'll be saying goodbye to the Lakers fans who've supported him for 20 years.

So the Lakers coach said before his team took on the Pelicans, and we don't think he's joking:

Lakers coach Byron Scott on Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game on April 13 vs. Utah: "I almost just want to play him 48 minutes."
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) April 8, 2016

Byron: "I’ll be like, ‘KB, I’m just going to keep you out there until you tell me you want to rest."
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) April 8, 2016

That means making sure the Black Mamba is as healthy and rested as he can be headed into the final game of his career, at home against the Utah Jazz. Bryant wants to play -- and he will play, barring something catastrophic -- in his remaining three road games. There are crowds and players to bid farewell and adulation to soak in.

That last game at Staples Center, though, that's the crowning moment to a legendary Hall of Fame career. And for once, we're going to side with Byron Scott. Kobe should play all 48 minutes, or as many minutes as he wants.

Kobe Bryant on playing all 48 minutes in Wednesday's finale @STAPLESCenter: "Stop it. Unless you're playing on 2k" pic.twitter.com/eracTJxEw3
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) April 9, 2016

We have more suggestions, too! Five, in fact. If someone could pass along these requests to Kobe, we'd be much obliged.

1. Take every shot for a quarter.

At first, we were going to ask that Kobe take every shot in the game, but that's preposterous. For 12 minutes, though? Absolutely on the table. And just for good measure, he should put on a Jazz jersey and take a shot for Utah at some point during that quarter.

2. Convince the Lakers to sign Smush Parker to a 10-day contract.

Then convince Scott to start Smush, then freeze him out for the entire game, for old times' sake.

3. Argue every call. Literally.

What ref is going to have the audacity to eject Kobe in his last game? Joey Crawford retired, remember, so he's off the table.

4. Change shoes at each TV timeout.

Bryant's signature kicks are some of the best ever. Dedicate a member of the Staples Center staff to havinga new pair of shoes ready, and the game shouldn't slow down a bit.

5. Wear the rings.
[caption id="attachment_140934"]
This is a start. Now get the rest.
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Not for the whole game. That, too, would be preposterous. Maybe just the final possession. No one else gets to touch the ball. Kobe dribbles with all of his rings on one hand, takes the last shot. And even if it misses, we all agree to say it went in.