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Kobe Bryant to be like Michael Jordan on the Wizards?

By Bryan Rose

December 14, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) prepares to shoot the ball as Washington Wizards shooting guard Jordan Crawford (15) and Wizards small forward Martell Webster (9) defend in the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
December 14, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) prepares to shoot the ball as Washington Wizards shooting guard Jordan Crawford (15) and Wizards small forward Martell Webster (9) defend in the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Limited to just six games last season, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is eager to get back on the basketball court. The former league MVP says he’s aware he’s no longer the same player he once was, though is quick to point out he’s still an elite talent.

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Just how elite, is the question. Will we still see the same Kobe Bryant we’ve seen recently? It’s obvious he’s not the 28-year-old Bryant we saw destroying the league with relative ease, but even before his injury Kobe Bryant was playing at a very high level.

How far has he been set back by being off the court for a season? Might he be like Michael Jordan during his time with the Washington Wizards? That’s a sentiment shared by Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders.

"I’m not sure we should expect Bryant to be quite as agile/mobile as 96-98 Jordan, but possibly somewhere between that type of athlete and the one that played for the Wizards a couple years later. I’m not foolish enough to doubt what Bryant can Will himself to do."

While a lot of people will likely remember Michael Jordan being a bit sub-par during his first season with the Washington Wizards, Jordan’s second season in D.C. was very good for any player, let alone one at 39-years-old.

If Kobe Bryant can put up a similar stat line as Jordan did during his final season with the Wizards, which included 20 points per game on 44 percent shooting, it would seem all involved would be happy.

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