Kobe Bryant Makes The Bad Kind Of NBA History- As The Lakers Continue To Struggle Will The Star Force A Trade?

L.A. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant set a new record last night... only it was the kind of record most wouldn't want. The 19-year veteran set a new benchmark in career missed shots, and has some people wondering whether he will try to force a trade to a contending team. The Lakers are 1-6 for the season, and life doesn't look like it's going to get easier any time soon. 

Against Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies, as per ESPN, Bryant scored 28 points; but with a missed jumpshot in the fourth quarter, the Lakers star became the record holder for most missed field goals in NBA history. After the game - in which Kobe shot 10-of-26 from the field - he had 13,421 missed field goals throughout his storied career, all of which he has spent with the LA Lakers. He topped Boston Celtics star John Havlicek (13,417) for the record. 

ESPN reported that the star wasn't aware of his record-setting exploits though, with Bryant saying "Nah, I don't follow that stuff man". ESPN also quoted Lakers coach Byron Scott saying "I don't care about that crap, and I'm sure he doesn't, either. I don't mean to cut you off, but to me it speaks of his aggressiveness and his longevity."

L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina added that Kobe shrugged at the idea.

Kobe shrugged and smiled on setting NBA record in misses: "I'm a shooting guard who has played 19 years."

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 12, 2014

The Lakers struggles so far this season, though, has some people wondering if Kobe will push for a trade (he has a no-trade clause in his contract) from the team he has spent all of his professional life with.  

NBA.com's Sam Smith offered up an idea of Kobe being traded to the Washington Wizards for Bradley Beal and Nene. The concept of the 36-year-old finishing his career in the exact same way as Michael Jordan is a big part of Smith's argument, saying "Adding someone like Kobe with [Paul] Pierce, John Wall and Marcin Gortat gives them a shot at the top of the weak East. And how sweet would it be for Kobe to go where Michael Jordan couldn't win and get somewhere? Kobe's not getting that sixth title. Maybe besting Jordan that way would appeal to him."

The article inspired plenty of backlash, with Deadspin taking the idea to task, and CSN Washington's Ben Standig explaining why that wasn't the greatest idea. 

As for Smith saying "I still think the best move for both sides is Kobe Bryant to the Knicks", Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports said "The idea that New York Knicks president Phil Jackson would want to trade the suddenly serviceable Amar'e Stoudemire to Los Angeles as a way to acquire the NBA's most infamous triangle offense-disruptor is laughable." 

For his part, Kobe told USAtoday's Sam Amick that he doesn't believe he'll be traded "It's not going to happen. You go through the good times, you've got to go through the bad times."