MINNEAPOLIS >> His star player has kept trying to fight Father Time with little success. His NBA lottery picks have accepted unexpected bench roles publicly, but admittedly expressed initial frustration.

He has also overseen the Lakers’ worst start in franchise history, a 123-122 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at Target Center marking the team’s fourth consecutive loss as the Western Conference’s worst team.

But Byron Scott still has enough support from Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and vice president of player personnel Jim Buss that he is expected to coach through the rest of the 2015-16 season, according to team sources familiar with the situation. With Scott signing a four-year, $17 million deal last summer, the Lakers plan to evaluate his future once the 2015-16 season ends, according to a team source.

The Lakers are not happy with the persistent losing, obviously. But Kupchak and Buss sympathize with Scott on handling what one team source called “a no-win situation.”

On one hand, Scott has felt pressure to handle Bryant’s workload in his 20th and final NBA season. Scott remains mindful of Bryant’s struggles, averaging 16.2 points per game average on 30.6-percent shooting in 31.3 minutes per game.

But out of respect for Bryant’s extensive accomplishments that have spanned five NBA championships and his current retirement tour, the Lakers have understood Scott’s tendency to lean on him heavily. They are also mindful of the challenge it takes to manage Bryant’s competitive nature.

“I want him to enjoy this as much as possible,” Scott said of Bryant. “You’ve never seen him smile as much on the basketball court or talk to his opponents as much as he’s done the last two or three weeks. He’s at a very good place in his life and his career.”

On the other hand, Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell represent the Lakers’ long-term future after they selected them seventh overall in 2014 and second overall in 2015. Russell posted a career-high 23 points on 8-of-20 shooting in 32 minutes against Minnesota. Randle added 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 33 minutes.

But Randle and Russell both face learning curves with their development. Randle lacks consistency with his jump shot, while Russell has struggled on defense.

The Lakers have granted Scott the autonomy to coach his team without interference. But Kupchak and/or Buss will likely meet with Scott next week after the team’s eight-game trip to gain a better understanding of his thought process on how he will develop the team’s young players, according to a team source familiar with the situation.

“There are times I probably should’ve taken the reins off a little bit more,” Scott said of Randle and Russell. “But there’s sometimes I have to put a rein on them and hold them down a little bit.”

Old rivalry rekindled

The two entered the NBA as high school phenoms more than two decades ago. Bryant and Kevin Garnett also squared off in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Finals, the former series going to the Celtics and the latter series going to the Lakers. Hence, Bryant’s nostalgia on Garnet in his final game playing against him at Target Center.

“It seems like yesterday we were the young, young ones,” Bryant said. “It’s crazy to me, lining up with KG after all these years. It’s nuts. Where did time go?”

Memorable visit

Bryant visited before the game with Bob Williams, who became the first black player for the Minneapolis Lakers, an experience Bryant described as “pretty cool.”

“He’s a pioneer,” Bryant said. “It’s very tough. It’s hard for us to imagine as players in today’s what it must have been like for him to go through that point in time and the difficulties faced personally and professionally.”

Injury update

Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson limped in the locker room as he headed toward the training room. He suffered a mildly sprained right ankle, but it was enough to keep him out since the 3:27 mark of the third quarter.

“I think he’ll be OK,” Scott said of Clarkson, who posted 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting and four rebounds in 23 minutes. “I didn’t want to put him back in after he was sitting for a while. That second unit did a great job getting us back in the game. He had been sitting for 10-15 minutes. I thought that would be useless to get back there.”

Keeping it Swaggy

Nick Young experienced something new besides sporting a new purple headband. He actually appeared in a game. Young posted 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 28 minutes off the bench and played the entire fourth quarter after missing three of the past four contests because of healthy scratches.

“I was shocked,” Young said. “It was frustrating not playing. But you have to be ready. I try to stay professional as I am and stay positive.”

Young and Russell also forced a key turnover late in overtime.

“When you think of defense,” Young said, “you think of Swaggy P.”

Living in the past

There marks no debate on where Bryant stands on the current Lakers’ pecking order. But how would Bryant fit in with the Showtime Lakers?

“I’d be the sixth man. I wouldn’t be starting on that team, not with him out there.” Scott said, laughing, before bringing up Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. “It would work out pretty well. They’re all abut winning. That’s what Kobe is about as well.”

But would Scott have complained to former Lakers coach Pat Riley about his demoted role?

“I didn’t complain about anything. I just wanted to win,” Scott said before praising Bryant’s talent and work ethic. “I wouldn’t have had a problem with it.”