Kobe Bryant needs to retire
This week, the Los Angeles Lakers lost Kobe Bryant for the remainder of the season with a torn rotator cuff. Bryant is 36 years old and will be 37 before the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign, and he is showing his age every day. After playing in just six games last season, Bryant only made it through a miserable 35 before going down this year.
Ultimately, Bryant needs to come to the stark realization that most of the league has already accepted. He’s done.
Bryant is one of the 10 greatest players to ever grace the NBA. In his prime, Bryant was an unstoppable scorer, pairing with center Shaquille O’Neal to win three consecutive championships with the Lakers. They became the first dynasty of the new century, dominating without reproach. In their title run of 2001, Los Angeles went 11-1 in the postseason, only losing Game 1 of the NBA Finals in overtime to the Philadelphia 76ers.
If Bryant never plays another game, he will finish with 32,482 points. He would rank behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and former teammate Karl Malone. Without a miracle, he will not pass either. Bryant will leave behind a legacy of tremendous ability, averaging at least 20 points in 15 seasons, while eclipsing 30 in three campaigns.
Bryant was also a terrific defensive player for much of his career, shutting down the perimeter with complete effectiveness. Bryant made the All-Defensive First-Team nine times and the second team three times. Additionally, Bryant was widely recognized as a top player from the outset of his storied career, making 17 All-Star teams and winning four All-Star MVPs. He has five titles under his belt, two Finals MVP awards, 11 All-NBA First-Team designations and is the Lakers all-time leading scorer.
In a nutshell, Bryant can feel comfortable walking away with a stature that isn’t going to diminish anytime soon.
There are few things sadder in the athletic arena than a great player holding on past his time. When the moment comes to retire, it is painfully obvious to even the casual observer. It is a period every player knows is coming, and Bryant’s has arrived. If he ignores it and presses on, it will tough to watch.
For the first time in his career, Bryant shot below 40 percent from the field in 2014, only hitting on 37.3 percent. His 3-point shooting is also dismal these days, knocking down 29 percent of those attempts. Bryant’s legs are betraying him, and with that goes accuracy. It’s understandable, considering he has played an astounding an average of 36.5 minutes per game over 19 campaigns.
The next time Bryant steps on a court, it should be to watch his number being retired by an appreciative organization. He should be in a suit, not a jersey. It should be a moment to remember when he was great, when he was the most feared player in basketball.
It should be a time to celebrate, not wince.
