Kobe Bryant is willing to switch positions to help Lakers' youth

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The Kobe Bryant show is expected to come to an end at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, and it looks like he plans to bow out gracefully.

Bryant has said he would move to small forward to help allow some of the Lakers younger players to develop, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Lakers have a talented group of newcomers in their backcourt, including rookie D'Angelo Russell and second-year man Jordan Clarkson, both of whom can play either guard position.

Lakers trainer Garry Vitti told the Times about a recent conversation he and Bryant had about the team's new, athletic duo. 

"(Bryant) was asking about our young kids, and I said, 'You cannot believe how quick and athletic Jordan Clarkson is. He looks fantastic,' " Vitti said. "I said I personally thought D'Angelo Russell is going to be a star. He makes hard things look easy when he has the ball in his hands.

"Then Kobe said to me, 'Well, then who's going to play (small forward)?' I looked at him and I said, 'You.' And with absolute, 100 percent confidence, he said, 'I can do that.'"

Bryant, 37, has often been painted as a fading ball hog in recent years, but this gesture could pay off for the Lakers as the team looks to build around Clarkson, Russell and big man Julius Randle for its future.

 

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