Can Kobe Bryant Overcome Injuries to Rebound from Lost Season?

LOS ANGELES — Before his stellar individual accomplishments and stunning Achilles tendon rupture last NBA season, and not long after he won the Olympic gold medal, there was a really good question posted to USA Basketball’s Facebook page.

How do you want to be remembered, Kobe Bryant?

“I’d like to be remembered as a person who overachieved,” Bryant answered. “I have natural abilities and talent. I would love to be remembered as a person who maximized that potential and did everything he possibly could to see his talent through.”

 

UPDATE: Wednesday, March 12 at 2:35 p.m. ET

The Lakers have made the news official that Bryant will miss the remainder of the season, per Mike Trudell of Lakers.com.



--End of update--

 



The points and championships are the rewards; the dedication and drive are the backbone on which he has ascended into basketball legend.

Underdog or favorite, Bryant respects anyone who pushes past accepted limits. Take your hunk of junk 55 in a 35-mph zone, rev your Ferrari 90 in a 55 or just hop in your helicopter if you happen to have that at your disposal—and get your [expletive] done better and faster than anyone could’ve imagined.

So a season of six NBA games (and his Los Angeles Lakers sitting in the Western Conference cellar) would be deeply disappointing to any player. For Bryant, it is a total car wreck.

At least last season he did better than anyone expected, playing insane minutes and pulling the team finally toward the playoffs, until the injury chopped him down. This season, even though it was again health related, he fundamentally underachieved.

Bryant plans to be re-evaluated by Lakers doctor Steve Lombardo later this week and is expected to be ruled out of the rest of the season, according to team sou...

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