Kobe Bryant continues to play out the final year of his colorful NBA career. With that in mind, the Los Angeles Lakers star guard just added another feather to his cap.
Bryant has been known to be a scorer throughout his career--a reason why he has been feted ever so often with awards and milestones.
Against the Kings, he officially joined another elite NBA group in the 33,000 career points niche.
According to the Bleacher Report, the retiring Bryant joined fellow Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz in the elite club after finishing with 28 markers in the 118-115 loss to the Sacramento Kings via NBA.com.
.@kobebryant has just joined the 33,000 point club! Belonging only to @kaj33 & @TheDeliverer_32! pic.twitter.com/HwoMMuRAQH
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 8, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">Though it could have been sweeter had the Lakers won the match, such tells the story of the Lakers this season.
While Kobe has proven he still has the stroke to pour it in, the lack of support from the bench has been a crucial part for the Lakers who are now sporting the league's second worst record at 8-30 behind the Philadelphia 76ers who are 4-34.
The Lakers are headed to another woeful season, their third consecutive. But one thing the Lakers can look forward to is that the team will enjoy a flexible salary budget once Kobe's contract officially runs out.
Such would allow them to go after the high-profile players, which could include Kevin Durant, as the Lakers now look for their next franchise player.
Sophomores Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle as well as rookie D'Angelo Russell are seen as the club's future but trading them off for other proven but younger stars is not to be discounted.
The draft as well could be interesting. Ben Simmons is looming as the top pick and the Lakers could get their hands on the budding Australian cager if they are lucky enough to cop the rights to pick first in the 2016 NBA Draft.
