Kobe Bryant’s Final Act Will Determine His Legacy

If the author Joseph Campbell were alive today, he'd probably have little trouble pinpointing where within the 17 stages of the hero's journey (i.e., the monomyth) Kobe Bryant currently resides.

You could say the rupturing of Bryant's left Achilles tendon was his "Apotheosis," the moment that seemed all but destined to destroy what remained of his NBA career after he'd already cemented himself as a legend. That would put Bryant in line for "The Ultimate Boon," the achievement of the goal that our hero originally set out to complete.

Clearly, defining that part of the narrative will be trickier than usual in Kobe's case. After all, Bryant didn't become an all-time great so that he could eventually work his way back from a devastating injury. Rather, his intention was (and still is) to be the best, to challenge the mythology of Michael Jordan while establishing his own bona fides as a towering figure in the history of basketball.

But Kobe's comeback, first from a torn Achilles and now from a broken bone in his left knee, has undoubtedly become a key component of his story as a heroic sports figure. As such, how he handles these next two-and-a-half years, until his recently signed extension has come and gone, could go a long way toward determining how he's remembered long after he's hung up his Nikes for good.

 

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In all likelihood, Bryant's final years won't adversely affect the big picture of his Hall of Fame career in any negative way. Nobody can take away his five championships, his regular-season MVP, his two NBA Finals MVPs, his 16 All-Star appearances, his four All-Star Game MVPs, his 15 All-NBA and 12 All-Defensive selections, and his two Olympic gold medals. Nobody can wipe away his myriad memorable moments or even a single one of his 31,700 points scored.

Heck, Kobe could be patently awful from here one out, doing little to lead the Los Ange...

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