How is he relevant? He's old and he just popped his Achilles. He might jack up 40 shots a game in order to get his PPG stat up, but he won't be any good at actually playing basketball from here on out.
Kobe is still clearly a very popular NBA player. Apparently some of you don't know what relevant is in sports.
People have underestimated him for years, including me, his work ethic is off the charts, I suspect if anyone can reinvent themselves - it is him. DD
That'll change. He's popular with people who are front running type of fans. His fans will change to Lebron fans or Durant fans soon enough. He'll maybe even some will be Harden fans.
He should just come back and start just throwing up everything he can to try to get as many points as possible to go for KAJ's record. This season has to be a wash for them anyway.
He'll be top 10 in scoring this year instead of top 3 last year. His assists will go up due to him being a little pansy because of his injury and not wanting to get hurt again + realizing how old he is and if he got injured again he'd never be able to play again... and instead of driving in hard for a layup or dunk he'll most likely dish it out if he's not able to score on that play. Look to Lakers fighting for the 8th seed: If Kobe and Gasol are doing well when Kobe comes back. But realistically speaking, look for them fighting for the 10-12th seed. Still can't believe Kobe is making 30 million this year, for not even showing up to his job. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan. 30 million guys. 30 million.
I just think its surreal the way some analysts act like the lakers can make some kind of push when he gets back. I hear it all the time, i'm like really? from an achilles tear? am I missing something?
ill believe it when i see it. kobes the hardest worker in the game, bar none. i do think that kobe will never accept a role of scoring less than 20 a game, so he may retire in 2 years because of that notion. but, cmon, he'll be fine. has he aged? sure. but he'll still average 20 a game. book it
Unfortunately that won't be an option, he can kill or rape all he likes but father time has finally caught up with him. Time always wins in the end.
I liked Kobe ever since I was a kid. That'll never change. After Kobe retires, I'm likely done with the NBA. Too much buddy-buddy ****, and WAY too many commercial breaks.
Lakersground is the shizz. They getting love and Westbrook and all riled up tmac said he feels sorry for Kobe. Do they have a hangout section or a nba dish like we do?
Well that's unfortunate. Kobe is nothing but a cheap imitation of Jordan and the world kept on going after he was done. The same will be true now that Kobe's done. Actually it'll be easier this time, Jordan was the best player in the NBA all the way up until his final retirement with the Bulls, Kobe hasn't been the best player in the league for several seasons now.
His athleticism has not been that great for 2-3 seasons so I think he can get by just fine with it further diminished. Also, sports medicine has improved tremendously over the last twenty years with much of that improvement coming in the last 8-10 years. Add those factors to the knowledge that Kobe has no problem going great lengths to find the most cutting edge treatment for injuries and I think we are going to be surprised at what he can do. It won't be immediate but I'd be willing to bet that he looks a lot like last season's Kobe by the end of this season. Also, don't sleep on how cutting edge PEDs are. What is hot on the pro sports underground is years ahead of what posters here think they know and what the NBA tests for.