Last season as a then-24-year-old Derrick Rose rehabbed his hobbled knee, the basketball world clamored for his prompt return. The former NBA MVP was cleared for duty by doctors with several months remaining in the season but chose to sit out and play it safe.
Kobe Bryant should take a page from Rose’s notebook. Not because it worked out so well for Rose, who shares a membership with Bryant in the sideline suit fraternity, but because it didn’t.
Before Rose’s injury, he was an uber-athletic guard whose prime athletic years were still ahead of him. He sat with hopes of protecting his NBA career. Bryant is a 35-year-old with 18 years of NBA wear and tear on his body. Following his recent knee injury, he needs to sit out the rest of the season in hopes of protecting his career as a human who can walk upright without assistance.
I’m not calling for Bryant’s retirement. Knowing the supreme sacrifice and dedication professional athletes give to their sports, they deserve to go out in whatever way they see fit. Some choose to go out on the mountaintop, a la John Elway and Ray Lewis. Others choose to hang around on scholarship with just the occasional flash of yesteryear’s brilliance. With the exception of boxing, where hanging around too long can cause obvious and unforgettable reminders of the bitter end, great players’ lackluster career finishes are largely forgotten a few years after they retire.
Don’t believe me? When you first think about the careers of Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky, you immediately picture them in their respective Bulls or Kings jerseys. The images of Jordan in Wizards’ blue or Gretzky in a blue note almost seem like hazy, drunken dream that you recall bits and pieces of in the morning, but can’t quite put it all together into a coherent thought.
Back to Bryant. It’s highly unlikely the “Black Mamba” will ever return as his completely and consistently dominating self. As mentally strong as he is, his body simply will not allow it. If he continues to push his body to the limit, it will continue to break down. If he takes his foot off the pedal and relaxes his legendary work ethic for the sake of health, his game will suffer and reflect the change.
The Lakers need to find Bryant’s heir apparent, pronto. Whether it’s via trade or draft, the team needs to find a star whose light shines brighter than the best player of his generation.
Right now, in Bryant’s mind he still needs to come back to lead his team to the Promised Land. The Lakers’ mediocrity was likely the driving force behind his recent return. If the Lakers had a young, certified co-star in place, Bryant would have probably taken his time with rehab to ensure he’d be healthy enough to make a difference in the playoffs. Instead, the Lakers are lingering around .500 and Captain Kobe wants to right the ship – wrong answer.
It’s actually a good thing that Bryant recently signed a two-year extension in Los Angeles. If you recall, a few years ago he stated that he would likely play out his current contract, which ends after the 2013-14 season, and retire. Even though it comes at a steep price for the team, it will be good to see Bryant retire in the same jersey he adorned on his road to greatness.
Let’s just hope the Lakers make a bold move soon in order to take the pressure off its star player. I’d much rather see Kobe transition to play old-head basketball (jumpers, fade aways and post game) as a second fiddle for the next few seasons than see him kill himself trying to blow by defenders and carry the team on his shoulders, alpha dog-style. Think about it: When your AARP-eligible, eggnog-loving Aunt Mae shows that she knows how to properly twerk like the youngsters, it’s just not the same.
For everyone’s sake, let’s hope Bryant and the Lakers realize his best days are behind him and save him from some painful embarrassment by making the transition into a sidekick. Of course, there’s about as much a chance of that happening as Santa delivering a shiny new Aston Martin in my driveway for Christmas. Bryant is proud and stubborn. Those traits that made him great will also make for a painful finish to his stellar career. Yes, he’s earned that right to go out how he wants. Hopefully the Lakers will do the right thing and help him go out in a manner he deserves.
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