Kobe Bryant has been around the league for almost 20 years already, winning championships and garnering accolades along the way while setting records and reaching milestones one after the other. It is for these reasons that countless NBA fans don’t want him to step away from the game.
Nonetheless, Bryant could come to a point when he should consider retiring. We’ve listed some fine reasons why the Black Mamba can call it a career…
Here are 10 reasons why Kobe should call it a career:
1. His Age
When a player gets to 30 and beyond, that’s old by NBA standards. Kobe is 35 now and you can argue he’s got a lot left in his tank. But look, Kobe isn’t like the ordinary 35-year old player in the league. Drafted as a teenager by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, Kobe’s been playing for 17 seasons, make that 18 if he comes out alive after the next one. His body is exhausted. He’s played in 1,239 regular season games plus 220 more in the playoffs. It is high time to rest his body. Dude is getting old.
2. He Alienates Teammates
We’ve heard countless stories of Kobe’s clashes with players that were forced to co-exist with an egotistical maniac like Bryant. From vital teammates like Shaq and Dwight Howard to minions like Smush Parker and Chris Mihm, it’s almost impossible to defend Kobe as a likeable person on the same team.
3. His Health
Throughout his career, Kobe has suffered injuries to his wrist, shoulder, ankle, finger, back, and really, just about anywhere in his body except his pancreas. It makes you think whether he’s been caught between a civil war or in the middle of a mentally unstable Ron Artest meltdown. Kobe’s recovered from all those aforementioned injuries but the gods of body pain isn’t finished yet. Kobe’s dealing with an Achilles tendon injury he suffered last season. Compounded by his age, he might be better off hanging his sneakers for good than risk another serious injury.
4. He Has Won Everything
Kobe’s achievements in his basketball career are more than what Kwame Brown could achieve in a thousand lifetimes. Kobe has won five NBA titles, won an MVP plum, pocketed two NBA Finals MVP trophies, made 15-All-Star appearances, and took home two Olympic gold medals. What’s there to pursue?
5. He Can Retire a Laker
For some reason, it adds to the legacy of a player to play for a long time under just one team. More so if he’s not just some role player off the bench but a superstar like Kobe who’s been the face of the franchise for more than a decade. Retiring as a full-blooded Laker is something to give props.
6. He Can Give the Lakers a Chance to Rebuild
The Lakers have the opportunity to rebuild without undergoing two seasons or more of sucking. That is more likely if Bryant retires and clears a huge space in the Lakers’ payroll. It would make the Lakers a top candidate to chase the top free agent in the market next offseason.
Bryant stands to cash in an NBA high $30,453,805 this season, his last before he goes to free agency. Extending Kobe would mean a large sum of money, which they should rather spend on another free agent next year, a guy who goes by the name LeBron James.
7. A Faster Route to Springfield
All roads point to the Naismith Hall-of-Fame in Springfield no matter what happens for Kobe. The only qualification left unchecked by Kobe is at least five years of retirement from playing the game. Retiring means more time to tailor a perfect speech for the ceremony in 2018.
8. He Can Become a Basketball Ambassador
Basketball has been playing catch-up to football/soccer when it comes to global popularity. To one-up its standing in the world stage, it needs a transcendent star like Kobe to campaign for basketball in hopes that kids around the world would start dribbling instead of kicking a ball.
9. He Can Jumpstart His Rap Career
Kobe once dabbled with rapping joining a long list of athletes who failed miserably in the rap game. But it’s still not too late though. Kobe can retire now and repair his legacy in the rap scene.
10. To Spend More Time Mending His Marriage
It’s no secret that Kobe’s relationship with wife Vanessa is a spotty one. A lot of patchwork needs to be done if Kobe plans to have a sweet lifelong relationship with his spouse. It’s a good time to leave basketball and start focusing on his personal life.
Do you agree or disagree with any of the points above? Let the people hear what’s in your mind by sharing this on your Facebook and Twitter accounts. For the meantime, while Kobe hasn’t really called it quits, you can visit our sportsbook and bet on Lakers’ games this upcoming 2013-2014 NBA season.
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