Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott has said he plans to place a hard minute cap on star Kobe Bryant for the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season.
Bryant had suffered season-ending injuries in each of the previous three seasons, and Scott hopes that the hard minute cap will reduce the physical burden on Bryant through the 82-game season.
Speaking to the Orange County Register, Scott said, “We've got to stick to the guns. If we agree on a certain amount of time we're going to stick to it.”
Bryant averaged 34.5 minutes per game last season, but only played 35 games before suffering a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
"I know Kobe's a competitor and he's going to play as many minutes as you want him to play," Scott added. "I'm also a competitor, so I want to win and I know having him on the court gives me the best opportunity to win."
Last Thursday, Bryant was medically cleared to participate in all basketball activities, after spending the past nine months rehabbing his shoulder. He is expected to join the team later this month in Hawaii for the team’s training camp, reported ESPN.
So far, it’s unclear what Bryant’s minute restriction might be, and it’s also unclear if Bryant will sit out the second game in back-to-back games.
Bryant, 37, is entering his 20th season with the Lakers and will be on the final year of his contract with the team. He will make a league-high $25 million this season.
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