Byron Scott thinks Kobe Bryant is too competitive to become a coach

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant sat in a chair taking a breather at the end of Tuesday's practice while the majority of his teammates ran wind sprints. With teammate Jordan Hill looking tired, Bryant sounded like a coach as he yelled, "Push it J. Hill."

First-year Lakers head coach Byron Scott plans on using Bryant "like another assistant coach" in Bryant's 19th NBA season. But Scott doesn't see Bryant joining himself, Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, Derek Fisher, Brian Shaw and Michael Cooper as former Lakers turned NBA head coaches after he retires.

"He's too tough," Scott said after the Lakers' first practice on Tuesday. "He would probably be a whole lot more demanding than Pat Riley, myself and guys like that. It would be tough. Plus, he would expect guys to play like him, to have that type of passion that he has for the game. And to have the love for the game that he has and to have that commitment.

"Guys today just don't have that like he does. He's just a dying breed. I don't think he would bode well if he wanted to coach."

Bryant appears set to become a businessman after his NBA career ends and has never voiced any interest in becoming a head coach. Bryant did express interest in having Scott, his respected former teammate, hired as the Lakers' new head coach to replace Mike D'Antoni.

Bryant's relationship with Scott dates back to Bryant's rookie NBA season during the 1996-97 campaign when they were Laker teammates. Scott said he had Bryant over to his home as a rookie for dinner many times and they often talked about the "Showtime" Lakers and the NBA in the 1980s. Scott isn't surprised Bryant has become one of the NBA's best players in history because of his talent, work ethic and inquisitive nature he displayed upon arrival from high school.

"He had so many questions," Scott said. "It wasn't hard to take him in. I enjoyed talking to him. Even [when he was] 18 years old, I was 36, I told him, 'I'm old enough to be your daddy.' It was just a connection that we had that seemed to grow and grow and grow."

Bryant believes Scott's influence helped build a foundation that led to the success for himself and Fisher, now a first-year head coach with the New York Knicks.

"An absolute professional," Bryant said. "It's no accident if you look at the young guys on that team and how we turned out with myself and Derek Fisher. We had an incredible veteran."

Scott's long-time relationship and strong communication with the demanding Bryant should make it a smooth transition to coach the perennial All-Star.

"It helps big time," Scott said. "I know I can go to him. He knows he can go to me. We know we're on the same page because we know what this organization is about."

Said Bryant: "We see things the same way. When we have discussions it's really checking and discussing."

Bryant played in just six games last season because of knee and Achilles injuries. His last appearance in an NBA game was Dec. 17 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Scott recalls arriving to the gym 90 minutes before practice to get ready late in his career. Scott said Bryant is doing those same things now.

"I'm not worried. I've seen him enough. I've seen no ill effects of the knee or Achilles. He's moving well. I don't think he has his lift yet, but most guys after the first or second day don't have lift either," Scott said.

Bryant said he plans on playing in the preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets on Monday in San Diego. Scott also told Yahoo Sports that Bryant plans on playing in every preseason game. Scott said he and Lakers trainer Gary Vitti have made a decision about how many minutes Bryant will play in the preseason, but he wouldn't reveal it.

Bryant "wants to play in every one of them just to get the rust off, get his timing back and get his legs under him, all the things you do during preseason," Scott said. "I told him to take it easy three weeks ago and he said, 'Coach, I need to play. I haven't played in almost a year.' He looked good that day."

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