Kobe Bryant: Rare Competitive Edge Guiding Black Mamba to His Best Season

Kobe Bryant wasn't supposed to be good this season. He was supposed to be old, over the hill, and utterly incapable of doing all the things that we've come to associate with the great Kobe Bryant.

To boot, many of us were thinking that Kobe was going to be even worse when he hurt his wrist during the preseason. Kobe's grit would be tested, and his Los Angeles Lakers wouldn't necessarily be saved even if he passed the test.

If you've been paying attention these last few weeks, you know that the doubters are feeling awfully awkward right about now. Instead of being old, over the hill, and too wounded to contribute, Kobe has regained his status as the best player in the NBA.

If nothing else, what we're seeing so far is a testament to Kobe's competitive fire. It's something that is rare in the sports world, and very rare in the NBA.

For what it's worth, Kobe thinks there are only two players who can match his drive to win: Chris Paul and Derrick Rose.

"The game just gets easier with Chris Paul," Bryant said after Saturday night's loss to CP3's Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com. "He's a dog. He's going to fight to win, and not too many teams can deal with him. 

"Chris Paul is really the only other guy in the league, other than Derrick Rose, who also has that competitive edge." 

As far as Kobe's own competitive edge is concerned, it's allowing him to do things this season that none of us expected him to do.

The numbers speak for themselves. Kobe is currently leading the NBA in scoring with an average of 32.0 points per game, a figure that has been boosted by his four consecutive 40-point efforts. Look back even further, and you'll notice that Kobe has scored at least 37 points in six of his last eight games.

Coincidentally, the Lakers have won six of their last eight games, shaking off a 3-3 start to push their record to 9-5. They are not among the upper crust of the Western Conference, but it's clear now that rumors of their demise were greatly over-exaggerated in the months and weeks leading up to the (delayed) start of the regular season.

Though there is plenty of credit to go around for the state of the Lakers, the team would be in a bad place without Kobe. He is keeping them afloat through sheer force of will.

We've always known that Kobe has had this kind of competitive desire, but it seems like it's been a while since we last saw it. We certainly didn't see it last year, as Kobe really did look old and over the hill. His minutes saw a considerable decrease, and his 25.3 points per game was the lowest mark since his 24.0 points per game mark in 2003-2004.

Since Kobe's minutes and production have ramped up so much in the early goings this season, the question is whether or not he can keep it up. Indeed, at what point does he finally break down?

It's one thing to question Kobe's durability, but it's another thing to assume that he is going to slow down. And because the 2011-2012 season is so short, you have to be optimistic about Kobe's chances of keeping it up.

If Kobe stays on his current pace, he won't set any career highs. He may very well win another scoring title, but he's not going to best his incredible 2005-2006 season.

As far as the Lakers as a whole are concerned, they're not going to do anything we haven't seen them do before. That includes winning the NBA Finals, which should be considered a legit possibility as long as Kobe keeps playing at the level he's currently playing at.

No matter where or how this journey ends, though, a lot of people (myself included) are going to have to eat their words. But all of us, haters and supporters alike, are going to have to come to grips with the fact that we will have just seen Kobe's very best NBA season.

Considering the things Kobe has done throughout his career, this would be high praise. But because Kobe is managing to dominate at a time when he really shouldn't be capable of dominating, it would be well-warranted. 

To say that Kobe is defying the odds doesn't quite cut it. Right now, it's more apt to say that he is doing the impossible.