Lakers Rumors: Near-Retirement a Testament to Kobe Bryant's Toughness
Love him or hate him, you've got to admit this much about Kobe Bryant: He's about as tough as they come in the NBA.
Yet, even the Black Mamba himself, a man who seems to have Novocaine coursing through his veins, isn't impervious to pain. Just ask New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez, who told reporters on Saturday that Kobe had considered calling it quits before undergoing orthokine treatments in Germany during the offseason.
"I know that he was hurting before, almost even thinking about retirement, that's how much pain he was under. And then he said after he went to Germany he felt like a 27-year-old again. I was still a little apprehensive about it and he kept staying on me about it," he said.
A remarkable revelation, to be sure, considering the tremendous physical strain through which Bryant has played over the years and the sheer determination and willpower that he's demonstrated throughout his Hall of Fame career. Kobe's long been the sort of player to persevere through the sorts of injuries that would sideline lesser men, including a wrist injury suffered during the preseason that's since healed.
Even though Bryant didn't miss a single game to rest it.
So what, exactly, are we to learn from A-Rod's admission, which comes on the heels of him undergoing the very same procedure following the Mamba's recommendation?
Well, for one, that Dr. Peter Wehling, the progenitor of the orthokine treatment, is a miracle worker. Without him, Kobe may well be sitting at home, adjusting uncomfortably to the concept of retirement. With him, the Mamba is leading the league in scoring and usage and ranks fifth in minutes per game played.
Also, that the Lakers, as a franchise, owe their collective life to Dr. Wehling for rejuvenating Kobe's legs (and his career) and staving off the beginning of the Andrew Bynum era.
And you thought that notion sent shivers down your spine before.
Most importantly, A-Rod's words serve as just the latest entry into a rather extensive file in support of Kobe's commitment to the game. The fact that that he so desired to make another run at a title that he flew halfway around the world for an experimental procedure speaks volumes of Kobe's single-minded desire to win at all costs.
Think a broken nose courtesy of Dwyane Wade's wayward hand in the All-Star Game will slow him down?
Now, if only Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss could find a way to spin some of their assets into a star point guard as well as Dr. Wehling has spun Kobe's own blood into a magical healing serum...
