Bold Predictions for Kobe Bryant's 2014-15 Season

Entering the 2014-15 NBA season, nobody knows exactly what to expect out of Kobe Bryant. At 36 years old, he's preparing for his 19th year in the Association. And coming off two season-ending injuries, it's tough to project what kind of player we'll see when he finally makes his impending return. 

We do, however, know one thing about The Mamba.

You can never count him out.

Although Bryant's comeback in 2013-14 was both short-lived and underwhelming, the veteran has made a career out of proving people wrong. In fact, he's a rare breed who actually excels when detractors are at their loudest.

Will Bryant be the best 2-guard in the game, as he was for so many years? Not likely. 

Will he average 35.4 points per contest, as he did during his incredible 2005-06 campaign? Not a chance.

While predictions like those would be bold, they're hardly realistic. Bryant has to prove he's still an elite player. But with what we know about his drive and determination, there are a few things we can project that are ambitious without being completely unreasonable.

Career High in Assists Per Game

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Kobe Bryant averaged 6.3 assists per game last season, which was a career high for the then-18-year veteran. The catch is that he only played in six total contests, but don't think that means this was a fluke.

The year before (2012-13), Bryant averaged 6.0 assists per game in 78 contests. That was a career high at the time, and even more impressive is that he did it while posting 27.3 points and 20.4 shots per outing.

With Bryant's athleticism declining, his one-on-one basketball days are also going to be less frequent. Turnaround jumpers in the paint should be at an all-time high, but if defenses are willing to adjust, double-teams will create for opportunities both at the rim and on the perimeter.

Although Bryant hasn't made a total transition to distributor the past few seasons, we have seen him adjust according to his body's handicaps. Bryant is smart enough to defer when necessary, and we should see that more than ever in 2014-15.

25.0 Points Per Game

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Throughout the history of the NBA, only one player has averaged better than 25 points per game at 36 years old (or older). According to Basketball-Reference.com, that player is Karl Malone, but Kobe Bryant could join that list if the stars align in his comeback campaign.

In a recent article written by Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes, Bryant's historical dominance is put into perspective. While comparing the personal efficiency rating of Bryant to other 2-guards throughout history, Hughes states: "That's the challenge with trying to be rational about Bryant. You can use all the cold math and probability you want, but after all that, you're left looking at a guy who has bucked the aging trend forever. What's the point of conventional wisdom when all Bryant's ever done is defy it?"

For Bryant to score 25 points per game, "defy it" is exactly what he'll have to do when it comes to conventional wisdom regarding age and production. With Pau Gasol gone and no clear-cut No. 2 option established, look for Bryant to take over the scoring load with his seemingly impossible-to-guard mid-range game.

Look for him to do it at an extremely high level, and look for him to do it to the tune of something near 25 points per contest.

Worst Defensive Season

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Considering Kobe Bryant's age and recent history with injuries, it only makes sense that one of these predictions goes against the notion that he'll be elite on both ends of the floor.

Despite being a nine-time All-Defensive first-team member, Bryant's 2012-13 campaign—his last nearly full season—saw him regress on that side of the court. According to 82games.com, the Los Angeles Lakers were 4.4 points per 100 possessions worse defensively when Bryant was on the floor.

Although age and athleticism have a lot to do with this, you have to question effort as well. With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record at stake, Bryant's efforts are going to be at their best when the 2-guard has a chance of scoring the basketball.

At Least 70 Games

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Through 18 seasons, Kobe Bryant has averaged more than 69 games per contest. That number is 69.2 to be (almost) exact, and that includes his six-game showing last year, two lockout-shortened campaigns and a 50-game performance in 1998-99.

If Bryant wants to have a true bounce-back season in 2014-15, health is going to be a big part of it. Falling to yet another injury will put a serious damper on this resurgence. After having taken so much time off though, Bryant should be ready to play not just at a high level, but for the length of an entire year.

At this point, we know that The Mamba will sit on occasion, even when healthy. According to coach Byron Scott, via A Martinez and Alex Cohen of 89.3 KPCC, Scott will sit the superstar on occasion. In Scott's own words:

"

[...] There might be some games where you can't play this game or that game. But that's all to be determined. We have to sit down before training camp and go over some things because I can't have him going twice a day in training camp. [...] He's been here long enough and understands his game better than anybody here, what it takes to win. I got to use that knowledge that he has as well. I'm going to treat him like he's an assistant coach as well as a player.

"

All of that is easy to say now, but how about when Bryant is killing it on the court? Look for Bryant to sit games, but not as often as you might expect—so long as he's healthy.

Top-Five Status at Shooting Guard

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B/R's Adam Fromal recently put together his list of the top 10 shooting guards entering the 2014-15 season. Although the usual culprits made the list (James Harden, Dwyane Wade, Klay Thompson, etc.), there is an obvious exclusion when it comes to Kobe Bryant. 

Bryant's omission makes sense at this point considering we don't know what to expect to start the year. In fact, it would be unfair to the 2-guards who produced last season if The Mamba made the list based off his entire career.

All that said, Bryant's comeback season will move him into the top 10 by the end of the season, and if we're being bold, he'll crack the top five based off his unexpected production.

This topic, above all else discussed in this article, is subjective, but virtually everything we've discussed thus far has been leading up to this point. Having his worst defensive season won't help Bryant in this category, but his numbers and overall demeanor will drive him to become the kind of player he was before he ever got hurt.

If Bryant can truly become a top-five shooting guard, it will cement his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. No. 24 is ready to bust onto the scene following a failed 2013-14 campaign, and 2014-15 should be a whole new year for the future Hall of Famer.