"If this was the Titanic, I'd go down with that s***."

So said Kobe Bryant to ESPN after Los Angeles lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 87-104 at home.

"I'm not jumping off," added the Lakers' big brother, further displaying loyalty to his troubled team.

The Titanic metaphor appeared pertinent for the failing aristocrats whose dismal start to the season has seen them win just seven of 16 games.

Bryant hasn't fallen quite as low or shared the same indignity as his teammates, having surpassed the 32,000 mark in career points, becoming only the fourth player to do so in National Basketball Association history.

Lakers' matches have witnessed a weird combination since the Black Mamba returned from injury – a high scoring Bryant but the team more often than not defeated.

Bryant has been under fire for shooting too much rather than sharing scoring opportunities with teammates. He managed to snap 44 points in the Lakers' 116-136 home fiasco against the Golden State Warriors on Nov 17.

Bryant didn't see it as a problem as he is willing to "go down" with the Lakers.

But the question is: will the Lakers choose to sink? What if it demands a do-or-die reform by dumping Bryant?