The news that Kobe Bryant would miss the next six weeks with a fractured bone in his left knee was not only devastating to a team decimated by injuries for the second straight season, but it could have taken an emotional toll on Bryant, as well.
The league’s most fiery competitor was sidelined for eight months after tearing his Achilles back in April, and was just beginning to get some rhythm to his game back after playing in six of them following his Dec. 8 return to action.
Bryant was playing increasingly well offensively, and played a key role in the victories in Memphis and Charlotte. While this latest setback is obviously less than ideal, Bryant expects to make his return on schedule, and would have strong words for anyone who chose to doubt him.
From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:Before the natural anguish of learning that his left knee had suffered a fracture, a most improbable sense washed over Kobe Bryant: relief.
“Lucky it wasn’t a meniscus,” Bryant told Yahoo Sports on Thursday afternoon. ...
Everything is conspiring against Bryant now, and the declarations of his demise promise to grow louder and louder. He is 35 years old, fighting back from an Achilles tear, a fractured kneecap and awaiting the start of a $48.5 million extension over the next two years. The walls are closing, his path to restoration never so perilous, and yet here was Kobe Bryant on Thursday afternoon making clear his belief on those who’d dare doubt his resolve again.
“Only an idiot would,” Bryant told Yahoo Sports.
We know Bryant will come back, but questions will linger as to whether or not he did so too soon after recovering from his torn Achilles injury.
Bryant was fine from a basketball standpoint, if understandably a bit rusty. But was the rest of his body strong enough to take on the work load, and was this latest injury a result of other areas needing to compensate?
No one knows for sure, and Bryant is right in that it would be foolish for anyone to doubt his level of determination -- especially considering that he’s proven for close to two decades just how single-minded he can be when a goal is within his sights. But let’s hope that when he makes it back next time, he does so at full strength to prevent any further injuries from occurring that could derail his final few seasons.