Paul Pierce: Will Be ‘Tough’ For Kobe Bryant to Accept Reduced Role

Paul Pierce is seemingly pretty comfortable with the impending end to his NBA career. He’s back home in Los Angeles with the Clippers and Doc Rivers. But another star from the same era has been less comfortable in relinquishing any part of his role—that’s Kobe Bryant, of course. The Lakers are treating this year like Kobe’s last, but many around basketball think he’ll play beyond this season. Either way, you’d expect a 37-year-old to begin taking on a diminished role with the team, but Pierce says it’s going to be “tough” for Kobe to accept that.