LA Lakers Will Reportedly Bring Back Andrew Goudelock After Kobe Bryant's Injury

Kobe Bryant is irreplaceable, but the Los Angeles Lakers have no choice except to try and bring in another healthy body.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, that body will be former Laker Andrew Goudelock.

Dubbed the "Mini Mamba" by Kobe himself, Los Angeles drafted Goudelock in 2011. He made the team for the 2011-12 campaign, but the Lakers waived him prior to the start of the 2012-13 season.

Last year, he averaged 4.4 points on 39.1 percent shooting (37.5 from deep) in 10.5 minutes a game. Presently in the NBA's D-League, he's posted a combined 21 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 47.5 percent shooting (36.3 percent from downtown) during the regular season.

With Kobe's 27.3 points per game heading to the sidelines, the hope should be that Goudelock brings an additional scoring punch to Tinseltown.

At 6'3", he was never to able to grasp the point guard position with the Lakers. Though he's essentially an undersized shooting guard, Hollywood needs to make up for the absence of Bryant's playmaking (six assists) as well. Especially with Steve Nash's status still up in the air.

Goudelock's assists totals have skyrocketed since heading to the D-League, and he's doing a better job controlling the ball and acting as both a facilitator and scorer. Any assistance he can provide running the offense will be of immense appreciation.

That Goudelock is also a familiar face should mean a lot.

He knows some of the teammates and their tendencies, and though he's not accustomed to running in Mike D'Antoni's system, Magic Mike is known for his backcourt-happy instructions. There's a viable chance he could emerge as a surprisingly potent contributor.

Don't expect the sophomore to have the kind of impact he had had in the D-League, but with health a priority, he provides an able body the Lakers border on desperate for.

Will he finally live up to his reputation as the Mini Mamba?

It's far too soon to tell, but you can bet that the now Coach Vino will be doing everything in his power to ensure he does.

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