Lakers Head Coach Byron Scott Says Kobe Bryant Revealed His Plan to Retire in the Middle of a Game

At least he was the first to know.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

In an interview with ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott revealed the moment he found out Kobe Bryant was going to retire. While the rest of us found out through a poem on The Players' Tribune, Scott was, according to Bryant, the first to know. Unfortunately, though, he discovered Kobe's plans in the middle of a game. 

Prior to the start of the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers last Saturday, Scott approached Bryant about his decision to restrict his minutes and the Black Mamba responded by telling him about his plan to call it quits. 

"I said, 'KB, I played you 20 minutes in the first half. I'm going to cut those minutes down. I've got to cut them down,'" Scott said after his team's morning shootaround ahead of their game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. "He said, 'That's good, coach. That's all right. I'm going to announce my retirement after the game.'"

Meanwhile, Bryant says the revelation came by accident.

"It just slipped out. He was worried about the minutes. I said, it doesn't matter. I'm not playing next year anyway. He was like [gives an odd stare]. I looked at him at his face, and I realized I said it. He was just shocked. I said, you know what? I'm just leaving him like that. I'm not even going to soften him up. I'm just going to mess with him a little bit."

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com

[via ESPN]

Latest in Sports