Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant says if Australian Ben Simmons is drafted by his team, there will be massive expectation on the teenager to help them win NBA championships.
Bryant will retire at the end of the season after winning five NBA championships over two decades with the Lakers, and labelled Simmons as "a fantastic player" with "a tremendous amount of potential".
The Lakers have high hopes the team will secure first pick in next season's draft after another miserable start to a season and thus get the chance to choose Simmons to join their ranks.
Bryant says the only thing Lakers fans care about is that the players have an expectation to win the NBA title.
"It's not about handing over keys or anything of that nature," Bryant said.
"It's about the player that's here. Do you have the attitude that winning championships is the only mission? The only goal? If you don't win a championship the season is a failure.
"If you have that attitude this city will absolutely love you and you'll get this team back to playing and winning at a level it is accustomed to."
Simmons is currently demonstrating his talents for Louisiana State University this season and although his team is playing poorly, the 19-year-old continues to impress.
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