Fansided

Kobe Bryant vs. The Time Dragon: A battle for the ages

By Kelly Scaletta

February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) speaks about recently deceased owner Jerry Buss before playing against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) speaks about recently deceased owner Jerry Buss before playing against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kobe Bryant
April 12, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers trainer Gary Vitti and center Robert Sacre (50) help shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) as leaves the game in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at the Staples Center. Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon. He under went surgery April 13 and is expected to miss six to nine months. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toll

It’s not just about the volume, either. Bryant’s minutes have been more physical. He has attempted a total of 11,106 free throws, the most of any guard. Karl Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal and Moses Malone are the only players who have been fouled more often, and they were all big men.

That means he’s been bumped, ground and generally knocked around at least 5,500 times. No guard has endured as much abuse as Bryant. That degree of physicality has taken its toll on him. Bill Oram of the Orange County Register mapped out the 39 injuries he’s suffered over the course of his career, and Shahan Ahmed tweeted it:

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