Why a Ticked off Kobe Bryant Is Bad for the Rest of the NBA

Kobe Bryant doesn't respond well to criticism. The Black Mamba doesn't like to lose.

Now 33 years old and entering the 16th season of his career, many are quick to point to the perennial All-Star's declining numbers and state that his best days are behind him.

This is what happens when players age. Bryant has an incredible amount of mileage on his knees, and it is natural for wear and tear to exist.

He's no longer the high-flying specimen of athleticism he was earlier in his career. And no, he doesn't have the afro, nor does he wear the No. 8 anymore.

However, it's far too early to call his once-in-a-lifetime career as one that's coming to an end.

Last season, Bryant posted his worst statistical season in quite some time. His 25.3 points per game was his lowest output since the 2003-04 season, and his efficiency from the floor had dropped from previous years.

The Lakers were embarrassingly swept out of the postseason in emphatic fashion by the Dallas Mavericks, and that left several questions about the future of the franchise.

Consistently among teams atop the pack in the Western Conference, the Lakers have an aging core of talent outside of a 24-year-old Andrew Bynum.

Bryant, who is well aware of the consistent juxtapositions to Michael Jordan, is just one championship ring shy of tying the greatest player to ever play the game in that department.

He knows that his playing days aren't endless, and the competitiveness he'll bring to the court nightly is something that the rest of the league better be well aware of as we enter the 2011-12 season.

The truncated offseason has not been a favorable one to the Lakers thus far.

A vetoed trade for Chris Paul has left the team "fuming," and the moves that the team has made does not improve this roster from where it stood last season.

The team has not addressed the problem at the point guard position, they traded away sixth man extraordinaire Lamar Odom to the Mavs for nothing but a trade exception and lost Shannon Brown's youth and athleticism from the second unit.

Key Losses: Phil Jackson, Lamar Odom, Shannon Brown

Key Additions: Mike Brown, Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts

Those moves haven't sat well with Bryant, who admitted that he's not sure about the direction of the team going forward.

After undergoing a PRP-like procedure in Germany during the offseason in an attempt to address his constantly problematic knee (he has an arthritic joint), Bryant has now undergone multiple treatments in an effort to correct the issue.

Bryant is searching for unorthodox ways to return to previous form.

"The procedure isn't close to mainstream but is becoming more common and might take another two to four years to fully validate."

There has been reason for excitement about Bryant's health during the offseason.

When he showed up at the Drew League over the summer and dropped the game-winning bucket, speculation was buzzing about his performance.

The reviews on Bryant's knee continue to be positive, as Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports passed along another promising word on the shooting guard's health.

Are there questions about the Lakers this season? Absolutely.

Should those questions be centered around Bryant's health?

He's played in all 82 regular-season games in three of the last four seasons, and the one year he failed to reach that mark, he missed just nine contests.

Now that he's got the spring back in his step and is being doubted across the league, it's time for Bryant to show the rest of the NBA why he's earned his nickname.

A competitor unlike any other in the league, Bryant is ready to unleash his venom.