Kobe Bryant Doesn’t Want to Play in the All-Star Game (VIDEO)

Having only appeared in 6 games so far this season, Mamba Nation still voted in their guy for his 16th NBA All-Star Game. Kobe Bryant doesn’t feel like it would be right for him to play, though it might be tough to sell the League on bowing out. Per the LA Times:

Bryant said it was “always a tremendous honor” to be selected to the All-Star game but added that, uh, he had no desire to play in it.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said flatly.

How come?

“With all due respect to the fans who voted me in, and I certainly appreciate that … but you’ve got to do the right thing as well. My feeling is you’ve got to reward these young guys for the work that they’ve been putting in,” Bryant said Thursday.

He is set to return from a fractured knee in early February, perhaps playing a half-dozen games before All-Star weekend in New Orleans. Bryant said he expected a two-game penalty from the NBA if he skipped it. So he might reluctantly suit up.

“It just means somebody will have to lose a spot, unfortunately,” he said. “Our backups will be playing a lot if I go in there and do my two minutes and sit down.”