"Kobe's Decision To Play: Stupid Or Smart?"

Injuries, injuries, injuries. They happen when the human body cannot take it anymore. Kobe Bryant's body has endured the unimaginable in the 14 seasons as an NBA superstar. The choice to play through most of his injuries in my opinion is foolish and childish.

Kobe has been playing in the NBA ever since he graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1996. Kobe is one of the few original remaining players in the NBA that came straight out of high school. The rule to require all players to attend one year of college or wait a year after high school was put into place in 2005. The NBA believed that it would be wiser for players wishing to come into the NBA should be physically and mentally ready to make a decision that would affect the rest of their lives. When I heard about this rule I thought to myself and said "Why? That's the dumbest rule I've ever heard of." As the years passed by I observed many young talents being wasted due to immaturity or they aren't physically strong enough to play with the "Big Guys." I then realized the greatness of the age rule.

Players such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and even Lebron James are players straight out of high school. You obviously know these names and we all know that they are all great players.

Now because Kobe, Lebron, and Garnett were very young when they came into the league, they have played more games than most people have in their lifetimes. Kobe for example has played 14 full seasons and has played more or less 2-3 seasons extra with all the playoff games he has played. Kobe has experienced many injuries during his long career. He is currently playing with a broken right index finger and a strained back. Kobe's will to win seems to be his natural painkiller. In my opinion Kobe was very foolish to resist surgery on his finger. It is starting to take its toll on his game.

In the past 5 games Kobe has not been himself. In game game 4 Kobe had mistakes and turnovers that I have never seen him do before. We all know that Kobe is slowly aging and going down the hill but his stuborness is fast forwarding him to his end. The human body can only take so much and it is only natural that players such as Kobe and Garnett are starting to experience more injuries in shorter time periods. Soon players like Lebron will start to slow down and break down, that is why the age rule was put into place. Enjoy your body as long as you can it won't last forever.

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