Attention conspiracy theorists: Any hypothesis that says that Kobe Bryant is not a human being has now been proven wrong. After a gut wrenching ACL injury endured against the Golden State Warriors, it is safe to say that Kobe is no longer indestructible.
Although, up until now, it would have been perfectly feasible to believe that Kobe was some kind of super human or alien. For almost his entire career, Bryant has been an unstoppable force, capable of playing through any kind of pain or ailment. He’s the black mamba, a machine that runs on heart and willpower alone. It’s hard to even fathom that his heart has finally succumbed to his aging body.
In a teary press conference given after the game, Bryant vowed that he would return, but will he ever be Kobe Bryant again? The harsh truth is that Kobe is 34, and may not be able to pull off as speedy a recovery as some of his younger counterparts. Granted, I’d never doubt Kobe Bryant to accomplish miraculous feats, but age is definitely a factor. Plus, the dude has been playing in the league since ‘96.
For the NBA, the early departure of Bryant this season is a huge blow. Kobe is a top five player, the captain of Los Angeles and an unquestionable face of the league. Not having Kobe in this year’s playoffs and possibly the start of next season is a huge disappointment. Though the Lakers were certainly having an off year, Bryant had been playing out of his mind all season. In fact, Kobe had played the entire game in his last few starts, showing no signs of stopping. This astonishing fact ultimately begs the question: Was it wise to keep Kobe in for so long? Yes, he’s the leader and gets buckets left and right but at the age of 34 there’s only so much he can push his body limits.
I don’t want to heap all the blame on Mike D’Antoni, as his latest strategy of unleashing the Mamba had actually been working fairly well. The Lakers were getting quality wins and Bryant didn’t seem to mind doing whatever it took to fulfill his midseason guarantee that Lakers would be making the playoffs this year. However, perhaps D’Antoni should give Gregg Popovich a call and get some advice on how to manage veteran players. Though it’s a slightly different situation, you’d never see Pop risk the health of Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobili to simply secure the eighth seed in the playoffs.
Even coming from a Celtics fan, it’s frustrating not to see Kobe out there. As much as I dislike him when he tears up the C’s, I appreciate him as a competitor. Kobe Bryant tirelessly gives 100 percent and makes games far more interesting with this frequent late game heroics. Plus, (though it’s highly unlikely to happen), a potential Finals matchup between Boston and L.A. would seem horribly off without the Celtics’ arch nemesis out on the court.
For Laker fans, this season is surely one to forget. Their star studded team has underwhelmed, they may not even make the playoffs, and now their franchise player is on the bench for the rest of the year.
I have no doubt that Kobe Bryant will follow through with his promise to return. Kobe’s willpower alone is enough to get him through. I just can’t help but wonder: Will we ever see the same Kobe again?
Griffin Guinta can be reached at griffin.guinta@spartans.ut.edu.