Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers coach Byron Scott: Benching Kobe is 'not an option'

Published Nov. 27, 2015 7:47 p.m. ET

foxsports

Much has been made about Kobe Bryant's flagging play as of late.

The scuttlebutt became painfully acute on Tuesday, when the 37-year-old went 1-for-14 in the Lakers' resounding loss to the Golden State Warriors, in one of the worst shooting nights of his NBA career.

But Lakers coach Byron Scott expressed his unflagging faith in his player and former teammate, declaring that he "would never, never, never" bench Bryant if he was performing poorly.

"That's not an option whatsoever. No, that's not an option," Scott said to ESPN.com.

Scott had already said he won't reduce Bryant's minutes, and that the five-time NBA champion has earned the "privilege" to shoot whenever he wants. And the coach all but confirmed the plan to keep Kobe front and center and give him as many opportunities to succeed as possible. "And we'll just roll with the punches," Scott said.