Former champ reveals Kobe Bryant made breakout star cry in locker room in 2014

During the 2014-15 NBA season, the LA Lakers were struggling under an aging Kobe Bryant. The Lakers were on a downward trend and had to deal with consecutive losses. During one practice session, Bryant got fed up and criticized the team, calling them "soft like Charmin."

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His former teammate, Nick Young, revealed details of what happened during their practice. According to the 2018 NBA champion, the Lakers legend said made Jeremy Lin cry. Young said the 2012 Breakout Athlete of the Year couldn't control his emotions and shed a tear in the locker room.

Young told the story on Wednesday's episode of "Gil's Arena."

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“It was mostly aimed at Jeremy Lin, to tell you the truth,” Young said. “People don’t know Lin actually cried in the locker room that day… He was emotional. I was mad because he was — he got ripped and s**t and he was the reason we lost. I’m still mad at Lin that day.

“At that time, Kobe only had one leg and he couldn’t do nothing with me at that time. That was my team. The funny thing, big brother Gil [Arenas] called me that same day after practice, ‘That’s how you talk to Kobe, that’s how you talk.'

“Yeah, Kobe already in his Kobe zone so he’s like, ‘I ain’t talking to you motherf*****s.’ …Kobe can’t do that in that moment. You got to stand up for yourself. That’s why I was more mad at him. Say something to him, I don’t give a f**k [if] it was Kobe or not, you on the court with him.”

Young said Bryant's trash talk didn't get to him as he had 29 points in their next game. Swaggy P came off the bench against the San Antonio Spurs and was one of the two players for the team who scored 20 points.

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How well did Kobe Bryant play during the 2014-15 season?

Kobe Bryant didn't have the best campaign during the 2014-15 season as he was on the final legs of his career. Due to injuries, he was mostly on the sidelines and played 35 games. In late January, he tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder which required him to undergo a season-ending injury.

In his 19th season, Bryant averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists. The former Lakers star had one of his worst shooting averages that season as he made 37.3% of his field goals and 29.3% of his threes.

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