It's strange. The man has no filter for what he says, even if it is degrading to his teammates or fans. The man has already ruined an organization for the span of two seasons, and helped chase one of the greatest players of all time out of town (Shaq, not Smush Parker).
He ruined the journey for my favorite sports team of all time back in 2001 when he eliminated the 76ers in the Finals. He has so many moments where he thinks he is better than everybody that his own face of disgust, the "Kobe face". He raped a girl less than ten years ago and already 75% of the country has forgotten about that. He insults reporters doing their job, he insults players for p"playing dirty" even if they just beat hime, he is selfish and believes in only himself.
He is Kobe Bryant, and he is my least favorite basketball player of all-time.
He is Kobe Bryant, and I'm going to miss him.
When I heard that Kobe tore his Achilles tendon, I didn't think that much of it. I figured that it can't be that serious because its Kobe and he'll brush it off. But than I remembered, this is a freaking torn Achilles tendon. That is the same injury that ended Charles Barkley and Isaiah Thomas's careers. You can not walk on a torn Achilles tendon, you need surgery to repair an Achilles tendon and you sure as hell will have some trouble setting up a pick-and-roll or pulling off an 18-foot jumper with a torn Achilles tendon.
Kobe had successful surgery on the tendon on Sunday, and is expected to miss 6-9 months. The Utah Jazz are giddy. Kobe will obviously miss the remaining games leading up to the playoffs, and should the Lakers hold on to their one game lead in the race for the eighth spot, miss the postseason as well. He will likely not be ready for training camp next season, but can set a realistic goal for the opening game. He has claimed that the 2013-14 season will be his last. And yet, as much as I can not stand the man, I really hope it's not.
Kobe Bryant gives us endless amount of entertainment on and off the court. He posted a three paragraph rant on Facebook after he tore the tendon. He is one of the only players left in the league who honestly answers reporters. When some B-line reporter working for The Snapper asks Kobe "Why didn't Dwight grab that important board at the end of the game tonight? Could have gotten the win for you guys", Kobe doesn't respond with some generic team bullshit. He would probably say "Because Dwight is soft, we obviously can't trust him in that spot anymore. I'll probably be grabbing some boards in addition to the points and chicks I'll be scoring on Friday." And I will hate it, but really, I will love it.
Kobe is a jackass, but he's at least brutally honest and entertaining for that reason. He is also one of the best players in the game today and one of the best players ever. Here's my quick rundown: Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and than Kobe Bryant. That's right, I would say that Kobe is currently the eighth best player of all-time. That is a league that included Shaq, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon, George Gervin, James Worthy, John Havlicek, Moses Malone, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and Eddy Curry. I'm not counting LeBron, because one day he might be in the top five. But Kobe is one of few players who can take the ball himself, and have no doubt in his mind that he will score. At any point in the game, regardless of the quarter, season or situation. Bryant wants the ball because he knows he can score.
And we're not going to get to see that now this postseason. Granted the Western Conference Playoffs are going to be a clusterfuck of anybody could come out. However, who is the alpha dog? Kevin Durant is the best player, but he doesn't have that Kobe mentality. Hell, LeBron doesn't have that Kobe mentality. No one does. I'm going to miss the guy taking over a game and going to work to get the win. As much as I hated it because I knew it was coming, its impressive because it really was so predictable and so beautiful. Kobe Bryant just knew who how to ball.
Now for the question I don't want to ask, is this it? Have we seen the last of Kobe Bryant? Will our last picture of Bryant be him limping off the court, looking weak for the first time ever (and this is a guy who didn't look weak when accused of rape. Pat-2, Kobe Rape-0)? Realistically, he should be healthy again by the beginning of next season and definitely by mid-year. But what if he is told that he can't play basketball again. He is 34, and will be 35 in August. He has played over 45,000 minutes in his 17 year career. He has won five rings and an MVP trophy. He has done it all, except one thing.
He hasn't scored the most points in history. That will eat at Kobe if he has to retire not only without the career scoring title, but especially if he has to retire without the career scoring title because of an injury. Bryant has clearly been playing for that honor for the most part of his career. Sure, he's a selfish player by nature, but that has led to him wanting to take shots so he can achieve it. Bryant has some kind of ego, and he wants to score more points than Kareem. And, he is only about 7,000 points away. He had scored 2,000 up until Friday night, so he can still average over the ton mark at age 34. If he could average 1500 a season, it would take about five seasons to pass Kareem. Kobe would be 39 going on 40. If there is one player who could do it, it is Kobe Bryant.
But what if the Lakers decide to amnesty the Black Mamba? He is due $30 million next season, is that something you'd want to pay a 35 year old guard who has a "shoot-first" mentality and coming off Achilles tendon surgery? Should the Lakers decide to amnesty Kobe, they could save over $60 million. New management means less dedication to the players who were there before. It is Kobe Bryant, so dropping him is not that easy. But saving $60 million and beginning to build a team around Dwight Howard makes sense. And who is a free agent in 2014, again? Oh yeah, LeBron James. $60 million in cap space and Hollywood is more enticing than any other franchise could offer. And what about the possibility of luring a guy like Brandon Jennings to play point guard the year before LeBron is available? Or even Chris Paul? What is more impressive of a squad in your eyes? Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake and a Kobe who is coming off Achilles tendon surgery and approaching 36. Or, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Steve Blake? That second team wins three rings in a row as Kobe unfortunately ends his career on the Atlanta Hawks.
So here's to hoping Kobe comes back, for three reasons. One, for those who love Kobe and appreciate the exciting and talented player that he is. Two, for those who hate Kobe and likely hate the Lakers and would hate to see that All-Star squad win three championships in a row with all the sellouts. Three, for those who love and hate Kobe, but love basketball. We want more magical run.
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