Sam Amick

USA TODAY Sports

SACRAMENTO — Given the sorry state of the Los Angeles Lakers these days, it doesn't take much to get the storied team's fan base excited about the possibilities for a better tomorrow.

In that regard, Kevin Durant may have just made their day.

When asked about Kobe Bryant's recent passing of Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, the Oklahoma City Thunder star who will be a free agent in the summer of 2016 not only raved about the Lakers legend's achievement, but also refuted the notion that players around the league don't want to play with him.

While Durant wasn't specifically addressing his own uncertain future, he insisted that the player perspective relating to Bryant shouldn't be a hindrance as the 8-17 Lakers continue their laborious turnaround.

"Excuse my language, but that's (expletive)," said Durant, who congratulated Bryant via text message after he surpassed Jordan on Sunday. "I want to play with a winner every single night, especially somebody who wants to win that bad, who works that hard, who demands a lot, who raises up your level. I'd want to play with a guy like that every day. ... (His style) may make people uncomfortable, how he acts and just how he approaches the game, but I love that type of stuff. I think (the accusation) is BS."

Bryant's abrasive ways were on full display last week, when video of his his post-practice rant at teammates and general manager Mitch Kupchak went viral and the discussion about what his future holds was sparked anew.

To some, it seemed to perpetuate the idea that his personality was a problem. To others, it was a window into a five-time champion's world where excellence is demanded of all involved.

Bryant has remained adamant that he'll retire when his current contract ends in the summer of 2016. But after recovering from injuries that took him out of the 2013 playoffs and limited him to six games last season, it stands to reason that the 36-year-old could reconsider if he was able to get the kind of help that made the Lakers a winner again.

Whether it's Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo or LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency this summer, or Durant in the following offseason, prospective Lakers the league over are surely watching Bryant's productive comeback (he's third in the league in scoring at 25.2 points per game) and wondering whether or not they'd be a good fit in Laker Land.

This question of whether Bryant is killing his own cause has no clear answer to this point, as Dwight Howard's decision not to re-sign with the Lakers two summers ago had everything to do with coach Mike D'Antoni's presence (he wanted Phil Jackson) and Carmelo Anthony's choice to return to the New York Knicks last summer was clearly money driven (the Knicks could offer a five-year deal, while all other teams could only offer four).

As Durant sees it, it's nothing short of nonsense.

"Just his work ethic, just his demeanor man," Durant said when asked what he admired about Bryant. "He doesn't mind being an (expletive), and he comes to work man. He's intense. He demands a lot out of his teammates, and I've seen that just playing alongside him in the Olympics (in 2012). He demands a lot out of everybody. He makes them better. Everybody out on the court. You've got to respect that. As a player, I study guys like that. We might not have the same personality, but I think we approach the game the same way and I've learned a lot from just watching him."