The 36-year-old, who played only six games last season due to injury, checked in at No. 40 on ESPN.com's 2014 NBA player rankings.
Once word got back to the Mamba of his not-so-flattering position, he fired back a shot of his own at those responsible for the list, per Bill Oram of the Orange County Register:
If this story sounds at all familiar, there's a reason for that.
It played out in almost the exact same way prior to last season, only that ranking placed him 15 spots higher at No. 25. He wasn't exactly thrilled with that standing either, per Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times:
Like all subjective rankings, these are nothing more than opinions. And those aren't easily formed with a player attempting to rebound from a serious injury.
Perhaps that's why Bryant finds himself in the same company as former All-Stars Dwyane Wade (No. 36) and Rajon Rondo (No. 37). All three are set to enter the 2014-15 campaign surrounded by uncertainty, having missed a combined 156 games last season.
Bryant has plenty to prove, both as an aging veteran looking to evade Father Time and as a member of a Lakers team that set a franchise record for futility last season. It's understandable to question what he has left in the tank after 18 years in the league, especially in light of his struggles to stay healthy during the most recent one.
Of course, being understandable doesn't necessarily make it advisable, as ESPN analyst and former NBA head coach George Karl observed:
"An older player like Kobe is bound to fall in preseason lists like this because everything points to a fall in his numbers," wrote LakersNation's Corey Hansford. "However, you can never doubt Kobe Bryant and he...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
