Kobe admits it's finally time to start showing up to home games
There are literally only 20 games left in Kobe Bryant's career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Black Mamba knows how little time he has left. So despite all his aches and pains -- specifically in his shoulder -- Bryant is ready to play every possible minute he can the rest of the way.
The future Hall of Famer sat out the second half of L.A.'s Wednesday night loss to the Denver Nuggets because of that balky shoulder, raising red flags that he might be sidelined during this closing stretch of his career. After the game, however, Bryant was quick to shoot down any such consideration (via ESPN.com):
Asked if he would consider shutting himself down for a brief period to heal the shoulder, Bryant said, "I can't do that. There's like [20 games] left in the season. As much as I can get out there and play, I'll get out there and play. At Staples [Center], I'm going to have to start ramping it up a little bit and getting out there and playing. It's almost a wrap.
"At the same time, I don't want to do something towards the end and have the shoulder pop out again, and then I'm on the surgery table again or something like that. I don't want that to happen. So we've just got to be smart, but I'll still appreciate the time that I have left."
Bryant allowed that there's "clicking" in his shoulder but said that the regimen for managing his health won't change. He tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder in January 2015, necessitating surgery that shut him down for the remainder of last season. In 2015-16, Bryant is averaging 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists in just under 30 minutes per game. His field-goal percentage is the lowest of his career, however, at 35.1 percent.
He's done all that over the course of 50 of the Lakers' 62 games this season. On the one hand, that's a pretty impressive number of games played for a 20-year veteran. On the other, Bryant's been somewhat robbing the Lakers crowd that supported him his entire career by taking off games at Staples Center. His past eight missed games have come in Los Angeles, with one technically a "road" game as the Lakers took on the Clippers. Short of an early stretch this season where Kobe had to miss three straight road games, he has benched himself at home.
It makes some sense, of course. Many road arenas are seeing Kobe just one time this season, and he feels an obligation to play in that lone appearance. And Bryant has enjoyed his retirement tour, which started with a framed jersey courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers before the league and Bryant put the kibbosh on any more lengthy ceremonies. The Lakers lifer has made a habit of giving away shoes on his farewell tour, to both fans and long-time opponents:
Leave it to Kobe to give gifts to others during his final farewells. But the greatest gift for Lakers fans is simply seeing Bryant play one final time.
