Fansided

Kobe Bryant will ‘die trying’ to return next season

By Andrew Ross

Dec 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Lakers won 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Lakers won 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kobe Bryant is having to face a lot of adversity, but he is going to end his career on his own terms.

Kobe Bryant was the iron man in the NBA for nearly the entirety of his career, but he is discovering that Father Time is undefeated and he cannot avoid injuries.

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First came the torn Achilles that cut his season short two years ago. Bryant appeared to be human for the very first time, and you could see him figuring that out behind his tears after the game. However, Bryant was not going to let that end his career — he fought back.

After getting through the vigorous rehab process, Bryant returned halfway through last season only to suffer a fracture in his knee in his sixth game back. The injury wasn’t first expected to keep Bryant out for the rest of the season, but he soon learned that his body didn’t heal like it used to and he to shut it down for the year…again.

Fast forward to this season.

Bryant was playing after essentially missing an entire season, and the expectations weren’t high for once. Things were going alright at first. Bryant was playing nearly 40 minutes a night and was effective, but he was quickly reminded of his old age.

Bryant’s body began to look more and more like that of an old man, and he started to get the “Dwyane Wade treatment” where his minutes were reduced a bit and he was sitting out of games for stretches at a time.

As if seeing a limited Bryant wasn’t sad enough, he suffered a torn rotator cuff in just his 35th game of the season and was once again shut down for the year.

Who knows how much longer Bryant wants to play (I don’t even know if he knows that right now), but next season is the last of his contract and it could very well be the last of the Black Mamba.

Today Bryant was promoting his new shoe at the Nike Kobe X Blackout Experience, and Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters got some good quotes from him on his thoughts for next season.

Bryant used to be extremely confident in himself, but these recent injuries have brought him down to Earth. However, it’s still extremely surprising to see one of the all-time greats doubt himself so much.

This Lakers team might be the worst Bryant has ever played on, but it’s no surprise that he is going down with the ship. Maybe he would have demanded a trade if this was happening five years ago, but he knows the end is near and he wants to end it wearing purple and gold.

All I want is one more full season of Kobe Bryant.

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