Report: Kobe Bryant Already Vacationing in France

No one should be forced to watch, much less hang around this gawd-awful Los Angeles Lakers team. Least of all Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba reportedly took off early for his offseason vacation getaway, as the Lakers close the lid on their 2013-’14 misadventure:

Bryant went to France with family members either Tuesday or Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times has learned. The Lakers conclude their season Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs

A team spokesman said he was unaware of the situation and referred a reporter to Bryant’s agent, Rob Pelinka, who did not immediately return a phone call.

Bryant has been in a surly mood since the team’s fortunes started sagging, muttering under his breath at last month’s team photo that he doesn’t like associating with a team so many games under .500.

The Lakers (26-55) have never lost this many games and have been out of playoff contention for a month.

Bryant was supposed to address Lakers fans before the team’s home finale Sunday but showed up at Staples Center near halftime because of a migraine headache, a Lakers spokesman said. Instead of Bryant, Nick Young grabbed a microphone before tip-off against Memphis and called Lakers fans “the best in the world.”

Former guard Nick Van Exel infamously concluded a practice with a “1, 2, 3…Cancun” huddle break in 1998 as the Lakers were about to get swept by Utah in the Western Conference finals. He later said he was joking when he did it.