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Kobe Bryant’s return from a fractured knee has been postponed by three weeks as he still experiences pain in his knee.
Almost a year after tearing his left Achilles in a game against the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has been asked to wait three more weeks before he can return from a fractured knee which he suffered against the Memphis Grizzlies in just his sixth game back from the torn ACL injury layoff.
It’s been one of the most disappointing seasons in not just Bryant’s career but also in franchise history. Bryant has been seen on the court during games in suits more than a jersey in a season, during which he signed a two-year contract extension with the team.
Although Bryant had his reasons to agree to a 48.5 million dollars two-year extension deal, according to Grantland’s Bill Simmons the agreement ranks as the sixth worst contract ever in the NBA.
How should he, and how will he, respond to this?
At present there are numerous questions surrounding Bryant, like the one above, and they’ve got to do with a lot more than just his injury. Why so?
The performance of the Lakers in this season leaves a big doubt whether the added two years Bryant has with the franchise would add anything to his resume.
Analysing the present situation, a lot of our grey cells are not required to come to the conclusion that Bryant, in possibly his last two years, stands next to no chance of capturing the elusive 6th title.
That’s one among many reasons why his involvement in the rebuilding process should be more and the quest for a 6th ring should take a back-seat. Here’s an analysis of all the reasons why:
Bryant has done it before
Kobe Bryant would have to work towards building another championship team around youngsters such as Jordan Farmar, Xavier Henry and Jodi Meeks
It is true that Bryant has rebuilt a team into a contender before. But the real question is – is it possible to do that in just two years?
After Shaquille O’Neal was traded and Phil Jackson fired in the summer of 2004, it took the Lakers four years to get back to the top of the mountain and be the best team in the league under his leadership.
Pau Gasol was the final piece of the puzzle the last time around, and Bryant needs to actively take part in the franchise to build a team which can once again be a contender and go toe-to-toe with the toughest teams in the league even without him.
It will be tougher this time, at the age of 35, to repeat what he did 10 years ago. But it’s not impossible. The absence of Phil Jackson unlike last time would be a huge setback, but Bryant knows what it takes to motivate and build a team into a championship candidate as the alpha male of the team.
Bryant’s experience and leadership would help his team-mates grow
At his age he is not only a veteran but also a leader and superstar who has helped players grow alongside him. Players who were part of the back-to-back championship winning Lakers teams in 2009 and 2010 would have a lot of words to describe the importance of Bryant’s leadership and guidance through their struggle back to the top.
In times of adversity the growth of a player is measured by his contributions, and who better to understand that in the moment than a 5-time champion. He can not only instil confidence in and boost the morale of the team, but also affect the players’ maturity as individuals off the court, which would impact their game positively on the court.
Rebuilding the Lakers into contenders could be his last notable achievement
Retiring after making his team capable contenders would be a huge gesture and commitment Bryant shows to the franchise. A gesture which would be added to his already illustrious legacy
The following two years might be Bryant’s last couple of years in the league. There is no debate about the fact that he already has left behind quite a legacy, so much so that he has proved his worth enough for his name to be taken in the same breath alongside Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
With his recent injuries Bryant enters a phase in his career where, with his exceptional game, he could help the franchise grow stronger instead of striving for personal goals. And if the chase for the 6th takes a back-seat, helping the team grow through the rebuilding work could turn into his prime focus.
A leader losing hope in the team does nothing but discourage and demotivate the players. So Bryant leaving the game of basketball with a team very much capable of winning a title would be a huge achievement in his career.
Bryant has the chance to do what Bird did with his home state of Indiana and what Magic contributed to the purple and gold as a part owner – to look over the proceedings and lead the franchise to a state of stability. It would not be the most historic finish to a career in the league, but one Bryant can and will be proud of.
All these ideas seem fantastic, but it remains to be seen whether Bryant is ready to adjust to new surroundings once again as the Lakers go through a transition phase.
