Kobe Bryant Is Willing to Shut It Down If Asked by L.A. Lakers
Get your fill of Kobe Bryant while you still can, because there's a distinct chance you might not see him suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers too many more times in the 2014-15 season.
Lately, Bryant has been playing much smarter offensive basketball, declining to shoot as frequently and involving himself as a passer more often. His 17-assist performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night not only set a new career high, but it also showed his willingness to play the style of basketball that's most beneficial to the Lakers.
But what if that style involves sitting on the bench and wearing street clothes for the rest of the season?
"I will do what they ask of me, but it's very, very hard for me to miss one game," the future Hall of Famer said after his team's loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, via ESPNLosAngeles.com's Baxter Holmes. "I'm not going to be here much longer, so the games that I play, I want to make sure that I'm playing and enjoying it and appreciating it."
Bryant isn't just referring to listening to head coach Byron Scott and operating according to his desires within the confines of a half-court set.
"Seriously, I understand," he told reporters. "I understand. It's my responsibility to be ready every single night and when I step out there on the floor to give it my all. If they want to shut me down, if they decide to sit me out, I will do what's asked of me. It's that simple."
Though he wouldn't necessarily like for his franchise to follow through, he's admitting that he would be amenable to Scott pulling the plug on his age-36 season. After all, it would keep him fresher for the more-important 2015-16 campaign, one that will give him a shot at the playoffs, an opportunity the 2014-15 season no longer offers.
The Lakers coach has brought up this possibility before.
"I'm pretty sure if we're [not in] playoff contention in March or something like that, then we might discuss that," Scott said earlier this week, per Holmes. In other words, the Lakers will be discussing it, as their postseason chances are only alive in a mathematical sense and would basically require season-ending injuries to every star player in the Western Conference.
Now, it's worth remembering that a Bryant shutdown is not a guarantee.
Not even close, in fact.
"It's important to note Bryant's indefinite removal doesn't appear imminent. March is not January. The Lakers can cross that bridge when they get there," Bleacher Report's Dan Favale wrote while arguing against such a move for the Purple and Gold. "For now, they're making the right call, eschewing the temptation to prematurely pull the plug on a player who, whenever possible, still needs to play."
A lot has to change between now and whenever this proud franchise decides to make such an extreme decision. After all, Bryant has been effective and content operating on a limit of 32 minutes per game, and he's looked fresh when he's out on the court. Relatively fresh, at least.
In the wake of a basketball legend setting a career mark with $1.70 worth of dimes against James and the Cavaliers, it's tough to envision Bryant just hanging up his sneakers for the remainder of the year.
It's probably tougher still for a competitive firecracker like Bryant to accept doing so, as that requires him shelving his desire to prove all the doubters wrong during a season in which so many of them have emerged and seen their case strengthened.
But kudos to the shooting guard for being willing to listen to his team's plan. That in and of itself shows a significant amount of maturity and perspective.
"I actually did listen to some of the Zen stuff that he would throw out there—being present, being mindful, being able to detach yourself from the situation and just 'be' is something that's really helped me throughout this entire season," he explained, referring to his old coach Phil Jackson.
"It's the ability to be calm and to see the big picture and to just be present."
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
