Los Angeles Lakers officials met last month to discuss whether they should require Kobe Bryant to take a leave of absence because of concerns that he was getting too tired with the combination of the demands of the season and his ongoing rape case, ESPN reported.

Bryant is charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Colorado woman last summer. He claims the sex was consensual.

Sources close to the Lakers also told ESPN that, because Bryant had been late to several practicies, the leave of absence would be partly to punish him. But there was no agreement on the matter, and thus it was set aside, ESPN said.