@ the Kobe haters and the Kobe kids. What a bunch of idiots on both sides.
Kobe Kids - Kobe is NOT back and even if he hadn't suffered those 2 injuries, we were never going to see even the Kobe of 3-4 years ago, let alone the Kobe of 7-10 years ago. He's 36 years old, he's coming off not 1, but 2 injuries that would likely end the careers of some players and dramatically alter the future of even much younger players. In true Kobe fashion, he is playing at a higher level than most anyone expected and will likely get a bit better as he gets his legs under him and he and Byron get his minutes figured out. But again, we will never see "Prime Kobe" again. Not for any length of time anyway. Be happy with what he has left, enjoy games like last night when he "turns back the clock" a little, but understand that he's still 36 and Father Time is still undefeated.
Kobe Haters - You're simply embarrassing yourselves at this point. I realize that he's been kicking most of your teams asses for 19 years, but for some you, hate has become pure blind hate and you're simply making yourselves look stupid. Look, as a Lakers fan, I fucking hated Larry Bird, but have always freely admitted that he's a great player. I was never an MJ fan either, but again, not going to deny the obvious like some of you do. Yes, Kobe's shooting percentage sucks right now and is at a career low. He just spent over a year recovering from 2 devastating injuries and hasn't been able to even practice jump shots for the vast majority of that time. Add to that the fact that he has a mostly new team around him and a new coach with a new system and it's going to take time. His numbers are trending up over the past 3 games or so and will likely continue in that direction. He won't reach any career highs for field goal percentage, but I expect he'll get back to around his career average.
He's the only player in NBA history to record 30,000 points and 6,000 assists. That in and of itself is a great accomplishment. It shows that he has been a great scorer, it shows that despite what some say, he will actually pass the ball and as LogicMan points out, it also shows that he has played the game for a long time. However, unlike what LogicMan tries to show with his cherry picked stats, it shows that he has played the game at a high level for a long time.
If Lebron continues to play at a high level and chooses to play for as long as Kobe (or close to it), he is likely the only current player who we may see join Kobe in the 30,000 point/6,000 assist club.
Best advice to everyone (especially the Kobe Kids and the Kobe Haters), calm the fuck down and enjoy a great player coming down to the end of his career. There are only a couple of seasons left to do so. If you can't do that, then at least have the common courtesy to stfu. The rest of us are just trying to appreciate a great career coming to a close.
Kobe Kids - Kobe is NOT back and even if he hadn't suffered those 2 injuries, we were never going to see even the Kobe of 3-4 years ago, let alone the Kobe of 7-10 years ago. He's 36 years old, he's coming off not 1, but 2 injuries that would likely end the careers of some players and dramatically alter the future of even much younger players. In true Kobe fashion, he is playing at a higher level than most anyone expected and will likely get a bit better as he gets his legs under him and he and Byron get his minutes figured out. But again, we will never see "Prime Kobe" again. Not for any length of time anyway. Be happy with what he has left, enjoy games like last night when he "turns back the clock" a little, but understand that he's still 36 and Father Time is still undefeated.
Kobe Haters - You're simply embarrassing yourselves at this point. I realize that he's been kicking most of your teams asses for 19 years, but for some you, hate has become pure blind hate and you're simply making yourselves look stupid. Look, as a Lakers fan, I fucking hated Larry Bird, but have always freely admitted that he's a great player. I was never an MJ fan either, but again, not going to deny the obvious like some of you do. Yes, Kobe's shooting percentage sucks right now and is at a career low. He just spent over a year recovering from 2 devastating injuries and hasn't been able to even practice jump shots for the vast majority of that time. Add to that the fact that he has a mostly new team around him and a new coach with a new system and it's going to take time. His numbers are trending up over the past 3 games or so and will likely continue in that direction. He won't reach any career highs for field goal percentage, but I expect he'll get back to around his career average.
He's the only player in NBA history to record 30,000 points and 6,000 assists. That in and of itself is a great accomplishment. It shows that he has been a great scorer, it shows that despite what some say, he will actually pass the ball and as LogicMan points out, it also shows that he has played the game for a long time. However, unlike what LogicMan tries to show with his cherry picked stats, it shows that he has played the game at a high level for a long time.
If Lebron continues to play at a high level and chooses to play for as long as Kobe (or close to it), he is likely the only current player who we may see join Kobe in the 30,000 point/6,000 assist club.
Best advice to everyone (especially the Kobe Kids and the Kobe Haters), calm the fuck down and enjoy a great player coming down to the end of his career. There are only a couple of seasons left to do so. If you can't do that, then at least have the common courtesy to stfu. The rest of us are just trying to appreciate a great career coming to a close.
