Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers' young core actually enjoying Kobe's retirement tour

Published Dec. 4, 2015 5:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

The greatest challenge of the Los Angeles Lakers season was and has always been balancing the last act of Kobe Bryant's career -- which he's confirmed will end after this season -- with developing the team's young nucleus.

Honoring Bryant at every turn during his retirement tour is fine. Letting him hijack the offense occasionally if he's "feeling it" is cool, too. But the Lakers can't forget that after this season, Bryant is gone. And D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson -- a possible Big 3 the Lakers have stumbled into given their recent struggles -- will still be there.

The Lakers, who stand just 3-15 and are a longshot at best for making the playoffs, need to prioritize their future, even if it means sacrificing some of their present and past in Bryant.

But if the youngsters are feeling ignored or underappreciated with all of the offense and attention centered on Bryant, they aren't showing it in the media. In fact, it's been the opposite.

Russell called himself a "fan" of Bryant's 31-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Randle compared it to MJ coming to town -- but not the one most would expect.

"It's like Michael Jackson's coming to town or something like that," Randle said. "I haven't seen anything like it."

Clarkson, who has the most to lose during Bryant's final season because he'll be a restricted free agent in July, isn't fazed either.

"This is greatness, man. Everybody wants to see his last go-round," Clarkson said. "It's definitely cool to be a part of it. It's crazy for sure."

If there's another benefit for the young Lakers, besides watching and learning from one of the game's best players in his final season, it's all the free jerseys, shoes and memorabilia they'll have access to.

"It's a long season. I'll try to get something every game," Russell said.