Kobe Bryant Is NBA's Brightest Star, But Has His Light Begun To Fade?

One of the hardest things to witness in any sport is a star who fails to recognize when his time has passed, and even though he realizes his skills have eroded, the star's competitive nature will not allow him to walk away from the game.

Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball talents to ever grace the hardwood, but it's painful to recall his final years as a member of the Washington Wizards.

Jordan still managed to average 20 points per game in his final season of 2002-03, but the physical gifts that made him special were no longer present, and his game was basically reduced to a spot-up jump shooter.

The biggest difference was on defense, because Jordan prided himself on shutting opponents down, but at the end of his career players attacked Jordan off the dribble on a routine basis.

It became clear to me that Jordan should lace up his sneakers when a young Los Angeles Lakers' guard by the name of Kobe Bryant poured in 42 points in the first half of a game against the Wizards, with Jordan as his primary defender.

By that time Bryant had already won three NBA championships of his own, and surpassed Jordan as the premier talent in the league, but that game may have been an unofficial passing of the proverbial torch.

Mercifully, Bryant played very little in the second half of that game against the Wizards, and Jordan could only shake his head afterwards, but there was a lesson to be learned if Bryant chose to pay attention.

Most Jordan fans choose to erase his final two seasons from their memory, but Bryant should use it as a teaching moment to show what can happen to a player who is to proud to call it quits.

Bryant has the same competitive nature as Jordan and it has helped him amass a legacy which includes five championships, more than 25,000 career points, and a designation as one of the best players for one of the league's most storied franchises.

Bryant will be 32 this year and entering his 14th season in the league, and already whispers have emerged that Bryant has began his descent from the ranks of the NBA's top players.

It's hard to take those rumors seriously considering Bryant is coming off a season in which he earned his second consecutive NBA Finals' MVP award, while averaging 29 points, six rebounds, and 5.5 assists throughout the course of the postseason.

But, there are signs that the grind of so many seasons has taken their toll, and this is illustrated by the nagging injuries that now seem to plague Bryant on a constant basis.

Most of them are minor aches and pains which used to be shadowed by youth, but others such as Bryant's knee concerns and his broken fingers are signs that age is catching up to the Lakers' superstar.

So, how much longer can Bryant remain in the upper tier of NBA players before time finally forces him to succumb?

Bryant's training regimen and conditioning are legendary, and the attention he pays to his physical state should ensure at least three more seasons of elite play, but will he recognize when the time has come to step away?

As fans we sometimes harbor foolish hopes that our heroes can remain relevant forever, and in Bryant's case the reluctance to admit his playing days are numbered will be a tough pill to swallow.

It's equally hard for me to reconcile this fact about Bryant because he has been a true champion of the game, but I too notice subtle things in his game which suggest he may have peaked.

Bryant's first step used to be the best in basketball and there were few defenders who could stay in front of him, but he doesn't get to the rim nearly as easily as he once did.

Bryant has compensated by becoming the most deadly mid-range shooter in the game, and he continues to get to the charity stripe by incorporating numerous fakes on his shot, in much the same manner as Jordan did.

But the quickness in Bryant's game has faded and the injuries in which he used to quickly recover from now seem to linger for the duration of the season.

I'm sure Bryant feels he has at least five seasons left his weary body, and after an off-season of rest and time to heal his body, I may be inclined to agree with him, but my perspective is jaded.

I would love to think Bryant can rule the NBA for the next five seasons, but time is an opponent he can never overcome, and history suggests his best days may be behind him.

Besides, the past has taught us what can happen to a player who fails to realize when his playing days have finally reached their end. I witnessed it first hand in Jordan's case, and I can only hope Bryant understands it as well.