Thursday, January 29, 2015

Kobe Bryant: The Twilight Years (maybe he should retire)

 
Kobe Bryant is arguably one of the ten best basketball players to ever play the game.  He is widely regarded as the second best shooting guard in the history of the game behind Michael Jordan (who he is inextricably tied to).  I still remember when he arrived in the NBA during the 1996-97 NBA season as an arrogant teenager with the wherewithal to force his way to a more glamorous city—sorry Charlotte.  Nearly nineteen years later, he is still as arrogant as ever, but his older age has forced him to think about the end.  He has finally reached a point in his career where he knows that he does not have many years left.  A life dedicated to basketball has nearly reached an end—but not yet.
 
During Kobe's career, he has prided himself on being able to do things that should not be physically possible.  So many times he returned early from an injury, or played through torn ligaments or partially torn rotator cuffs.  So many times his body—through extensive rehabilitation and sheer will power—has responded by allowing him to laugh at physicians' timetables.  He is like Tupac in the regard that no matter how many times you heard Tupac had been shot, you believed he would recover, just as he always had done.  However, Father Time is undefeated and Kobe Bryant can only prolong the inevitable.  Soon it will be all over. 
 
When reflecting on Kobe's career, you have to think about the number of games he has played.  Also, think about how many thousands of shots he has attempted during practice.  His joints have withstood more pounding and wear and tear than almost any professional athlete, ever.  During his prime years, his LA Lakers teams made deep runs into the playoffs, winning five championships.  He was also a fixture on Team USA when Coach K called upon him to represent his country.  To say that Kobe has been a gym rat would be a drastic understatement.  His work ethic has helped many of his contemporaries develop similar work ethics in their quests to become all-time great players.  Despite his other-worldly talent and work ethic—there are only so many times a person's body can be put through the ringer before breaking down. Kobe's body is broken, which is evidenced by his inability to finish a NBA season in a number of years, including this year.
 
Great players in many different sports all seem to share one flaw—hanging on to their respective sports for too long.  How many athletes have we seen dominate during their primes, then retire before completely “falling off.”  Barry Sanders left the NFL during his prime, which some might argue was too soon.  Do you remember seeing Michael Jordan when he played for the Wizards?  What about seeing Roy Jones Jr. hang around boxing too long?  These great athletes share this trait that pushes them to the brink of greatness, but also causes them to not be able to retire while still at the top of their respective sports.  As much as I respect Kobe Bryant and want him to accomplish other great milestones, those days are behind him.  He will never win a championship in LA and he is too much of an alpha dog to ever play second fiddle to another bona fide star.  That being said, he might consider retiring.
 
Kobe Bryant has been the face of the LA Lakers franchise for many years.  They would not dare force him out, but he needs to make a decision with respect to his playing career.  I suppose he has a number of options that include playing out the last year of his contract during the 2015-2016 NBA Season. He could retire now and forego the twenty plus million he is owed for next season.  I would like to see him have his farewell tour, but his body simply cannot hold up for an entire year.  If he does decide to play next year, he needs to be under strict minute restrictions.  Again, it is hard to believe that he would abide by such restrictions and even harder to believe that Byron Scott has any degree of control over Kobe.
 
Kobe's legacy is solidified whether he plays another game or not.  He has nothing else to prove on the court and can only detract from his accomplishments at this point.  He will never catch Kareem Abdul Jabbar; he will never win a sixth ring; he is still going to be regarded as the second best shooting guard.  He is a first ballot hall of famer and his legions of fans will echo his name for years to come.  These things are certainties, but I hope Kobe makes the right decision and does not end up limping off the court again—unable to finish yet another season.
 
Peace