Los Angeles Lakers: Does Kobe Bryant Have Anything Left in the Tank?

How much does the Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant have left in the tank?

One of my favorite basketball memories I’ve ever had was sitting in a hotel room in Cocoa Beach with my parents. My father had just had surgery and was ailing in his health. To get him in good spirits, we turned on NBC Sports because the NBA playoffs were on. It was Game 7 of the 2002 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Sacramento Kings.

Standing there was a young Kobe Bryant donning the No. 8 jersey, and the vintage afro. I was rooting for the Kings because they were robbed early in the series. I remember loathing Bryant as he played, not because of his personality, or any of his personality traits, but because he was so good, so unstoppable.

On another note: Speaking of unstoppable, remember this epic commercial? Since the dawn of time man has asked the question, “What makes Kobe Bryant aka the Black Mamba so unstoppable?”

Is it possible to stop something that’s unstoppable?

Bryant finished the game with 30 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals in a Lakers victory. From that point on, that 12-year-old boy never saw Bryant the same again. Instead of hating him because he was so good, it became easy to realize how great of a basketball player he truly was. At that point, basketball or anything about the game was never the same.

Twelve years later and as a 24-year-old man I can stand back and appreciate how wonderful Bryant truly is, and what his presence has done for the game of basketball. The afro he sported is now long gone, and there is a trail of a receding hairline. Doesn’t matter though, Bryant is not Samson and the secret to his basketball game was never in his hair. At the age of 36 Bryant has allowed God to remain his barber, sporting the low bald cut and is still taking defenders ten years younger than him behind the woodshed. With a bunch of detractors feeling that Bryant will never get back to the level he once was at, I ask “How much does Bryant have left in the tank?”

Let me say this, if Bryant managed to play 81 games in the regular season and only averaged 15 points per game, and during the season finale (the 82nd game) he needed to score 537 points, to average 20 points, I’d bet on Bryant.

The man is a legend, and no matter how much someone may hate his demeanor on the court, they can never take away his game. There’s a reason in the NBA he’s the only person with one of the most awesomest (I know it’s not a word) t-shirts. Now healthy, we should only expect what we have grown accustomed to from Bryant, greatness.

Speaking of getting healthy, Bryant now has to take an even larger role on the offense now that Lakers star point guard Steve Nash is no longer an active member of the NBA, due to retirement because of injuries. As sad as it was to see Nash leave the game of basketball destroyed and bruised, his legacy isn’t tarnished.

Since Bryant now once again has to put the team on his back, it’s familiar territory since he’s always been used to leading in that role. For Bryant to once again put the Lakers franchise on his shoulders as he’s done for 18 years, is like riding a bicycle after not getting on one for two years, it’s something that wont get forgotten.

Unlike Bryant’s Lakers teams in the past, this Lakers roster has a lot of young parts that can develop into quality NBA players. Point guards Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson both have size, quickness and skill to turn into a great rotation in the backcourt for the Lakers.

With the departure of Nash, these two guards are going to get a lot of playing time and each will have to step up in a major way to play with Bryant. The point guard duo are each well seasoned (though one is a rookie) and have ability to make grand impacts on the Lakers. In fact, people are already seeing that Lin has the potential to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and with his golden opportunity, it could happen. 

Where as on the low post, the Lakers have one of the gems of the draft in power forward Julius “Pitbull” Randle. Pitbull Randle is one of the most ferocious players anyone has ever seen. As a power forward he can handle the basketball at the top of the three-point line take two dribbles and get to the rim. If there is any chance of an opponent attempting to stop Pitbull in his path, he will body them and score with contact. 

With players like this, Bryant may not need much in the tank at all. Though we love the Black Mamba and he won’t take a backseat to any player, he may not need to. This Lakers team is going to rely on him and they want him to take the lead on the team. However, If Bryant wants to win his sixth NBA Championship (not this year), he has to allow chemistry to get created with this team. Moving forward in future years to come, these players are going to have to become options within the offense and will play vital roles in the Lakers success.

So if they ask how much gas is in the tank of Bryant, it wont matter. If Bryant was on E, I wouldn’t get too safe, he’s still always liable to go psycho and drop 35 points on anyone’s favorite team. Houston might get the first 50 point game of the year.

Till then, don’t worry let him get 35 on pump six if you catch my drift. Soon enough Bryant might find himself in Jordan’s territory.

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