Kobe Bryant: The Way Forward

For the past 19 years Kobe Bryant has left us awe-struck and mesmerized.  The incredibly talented shooting guard brought Lakers fans along with him on a dizzying rollercoaster ride to the top, filled with incredible highs and crushing lows.  Now, with his third season-ending injury in as many years, is the ride over?  If it isn't, where can Kobe Bryant possibly go from here?

It's not out of the question for Bryant to consider retiring.  He said as much recently, admitting that it has "crossed my mind".  For the die-hard Laker fans that have been following Kobe since he came into the NBA as a 18-year old it's hard to imagine him hanging up the sneakers.  He always seemed so unstoppable, like a force of nature.  He never quit, never rested, and was always laser-focused on his goal of being the best.  This single-minded obsession, of course, may be part of why he's had so many issues over the past few seasons.

Until recently Kobe was known for his ability to play through pain and brush off injuries that would have sidelined other players.  After 19 years of cheating Father Time though, it may well be that all those minutes on the court, the battles through deep playoff runs, have simply caught up to him.

At this point it's entirely possible that Kobe, over the course of the next 9 months of grueling rehabilitation from his torn rotator cuff, decides he doesn't want to do it anymore.  His workouts are the stuff of legend, often running much longer than a normal basketball routine.  Now, as his body ages, Kobe has turned to unconventional diets and therapeutic treatments to squeeze just a few more seasons out of his tired body.

The lifestyle that's required just for him to be prepared to play an NBA game is exhausting even without the night-in, night-out pounding of actually getting out on the court.  Still, while the notion that Bryant might retire isn't out of the question, it's extremely unlikely that he calls it quits at this stage of his career.

Many will point to the fact that retiring would require him to give up the $25 million that he's owed next year (and would free up that money on the Lakers cap), but the money isn't really the issue.  $25 million is certainly a lot of money, even to someone as wealthy as Kobe, but it won't be what keeps him on the court next season.

Instead, what keeps Kobe in Mamba mode will be his disdain for the results produced in the past three seasons.  He's long spoken about wanting to leave the Lakers in good hands, both on the court and off.  His praise of Laker GM Mitch Kupchak shows that he knows the team is in good hands off the court, but on it is another story.

Last season was the worst in the team's history with a record of 27-55, and they are on pace this year to lose even more.  To go out with potentially the worst record in Lakers history while sidelined with yet another injury simply isn't an exit befitting one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.  The way Bryant has fought over the course of his career has shown that he isn't the type to slip off into the night quietly, and he certainly won't let something like a bum shoulder be his death blow.

The chance to put the Lakers in a better situation and exit with grace will, in the end, lure Kobe back into the fold next season (along with the small matter of $25 million).  The question then is, at 37, what can we expect to see from him?

On the court we certainly won't be seeing a return to his MVP days.  With his athleticism waning Kobe will need to rely instead on his intelligence, and fortunately for him he just may be the smartest player in basketball.  No one studies the game the way he does, and his use of angles and arsenal of moves and counter moves will allow him to still be an effective player.

In fact, we may have already seen the blueprint for how Kobe can still be a successful offensive player.  With defenses keying on him Kobe's legs didn't allow him to shoot with the kind of efficiency needed to be the number one option.  However, he did show that when he wants to be he can be an incredible passer in spite of his reputation as a gunner.  He had four games with double-digit assists this season, including a whopping 17 against the Cavs.

In those games Kobe was almost, dare I say, Nash-like in the way that he moved the ball and used his intelligence to find great looks for his teammates.  He was able to hide his athletic limitations while being a positive force on the offensive end.

Switching full-time to the pass-first version of the Mamba wouldn't be easy, but if there is anyone who can reinvent himself at this stage of his career it's Kobe.  Defensively he would still struggle to keep up with the young legs of the league, but at least on the offensive end he would be a positive for the Lakers.

Of course he would also need to play limited minutes (possibly off the bench) and probably rest on back-to-backs, but that comes with the territory of being 37 while having the kind of mileage on him that Kobe does.  The good news is that there is a clear path for Kobe to take that will allow him to continue to thrive on the court.  There were too many times this year that he tried to still be the scorer that he used to be, and it was painful to watch him fail to be able to get to that level.  Employing the pass-first strategy full time would allow Kobe to go out and help the team without constantly reminding everyone of the player he once was.    

Off the court Bryant will be in full mentor mode, which might be uncomfortable for him.  The team will likely continue to look for younger talent, and will add pieces to surround inexperienced players like Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, Ryan Kelly, Tarik Black, and whoever the Lakers get in the 2015 draft (assuming they keep the pick).  These players will need guidance, and assuming Carlos Boozer departs that will leave Kobe as the lone veteran voice on the team.

It's going to be crucial that Kobe acts as a teacher to these young players.  His work ethic is incredible, and of course he's going to lead by example, but being a true teacher is something that Kobe has struggled at.  The young guys will need help with not just X's and O's on the court but how to be professionals off it as well. It's going to require a lot of patience, but he will have to be up to the challenge.  With a young team around him in need of guidance the Lakers will desperately need Kobe to fully embrace his role as a mentor.

Truly, the need for Kobe to be a mentor is poetic.  Back in 1996 current Lakers coach Byron Scott was playing in what would be his final season as an NBA player, and he was given the task of mentoring the 18 year-old rookie Kobe Bryant.  They formed a bond that has endured through the years, and it only seems right that Scott is around to see things come full circle.  It's time for Kobe to become the mentor that Scott was (and is) to him.

He's also going to be an important part of the recruitment process during free agency this summer.  While the Lakers can no longer sell winning a championship with Kobe, they can highlight all the advantages of playing in LA, and more specifically, for the Lakers.

As the most popular (and profitable) franchise in the league by far winning with the Lakers brings more attention, popularity, and gratitude than it does elsewhere.  Being a Laker means being a star, and Kobe knows the dedication and appreciation that the fans of Los Angeles show to their beloved legends.

The fact that the Lakers opted to pay Kobe $48 million over the final two seasons of his career also sends a message to players around the league that they take care of their stars,  There aren't many people who can better explain the loyalty that the Lakers show than Kobe.

Of course all of this doesn't mean that the Lakers will hit a home run in free agency, and as I've mentioned previously, there isn't much talent truly available this off-season anyway.  Still, there are few players in the league that command the respect that Kobe does, and having him as a recruiter can only help Mitch Kupchak in his quest to add players this summer.

Kobe is unquestionably one of the greatest players in NBA history, with a career for the ages.  Fans and players alike will be talking about his work ethic, his drive, and his overwhelming skill for years to come.  The final chapter has yet to be written though, and over the next 16 months we will all watch, captivated as always, while Kobe Bryant rages against dying of the light.  

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