National Basketball Association

Has Father Time finally caught up to Kobe?

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:22 a.m. ET

Jovan Buha

Kobe Bryant is finally starting to show signs of aging, and it's painful to watch.

The 36-year-old had been remarkably effective -- though inefficient -- in his 19th season up until recently, when his body began to break down and head coach Byron Scott had no choice but to start resting him. Bryant has sat out three of the Lakers' last four games and six of their last 11, and had already had his practice and shootaround time reduced.

Bryant has long been lauded for his unmatched ability to play through pain and injuries, and it's been rather jarring to watch a seemingly invincible icon reveal his mortality before your eyes.

Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding summed up the phenomenon nicely in his latest Bryant feature:

Bryant can still play well, there is no doubt. Devotees can argue that with a stiff back and sore knees, he still commands double-teams, was the oldest ever to post a 23-11-11 triple-double less than two weeks ago and stands sixth in the NBA in scoring.

But they can't believe in the power of his perseverance as they always have. That part of the legend is finally in the past.

Kobe used to get hit in the mouth, taste the blood and thirst for more competition. He prided himself on beating every doctor's recovery timetable. He won the NBA title with a fracture in his right index finger in 2010, dropped 40 game after game with a torn ligament in his right wrist in 2012 and in two days went from severe ankle sprain and out indefinitely to playing the next game in 2013.

Bryant has beenâPhil Jackson said so himselfâMichael Jordan's superior in managing his body and playing through pain.

That sheer will has been an inspiration to fans and teammates alike. Beyond basketball, consistency translates into faith that the job will always get done.

So as Bryant's days off have mushroomed from most practices now to some games, it's no longer the same at all.

The old adage is Father Time is undefeated, but Bryant was putting up one heck of a fight. It's unfortunate to see him coming up short.