It’s been over eight years since Kobe Bryant retired from the NBA. Many of us remember his farewell game when he scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz. But, many of us also remember the time when he tore his Achilles against the Golden State Warriors in 2013.
So, when I woke up this morning, I thought about how different the rest of his career would have looked if he never had that major injury. I asked AI to help me with this scenario, and this is how things would have gone.
2012-2013 Season
With Kobe healthy, the Lakers would enter the playoffs with a better chance to defeat the San Antonio Spurs compared to how things were in real life.
Los Angeles, with Bryant, Nash, and Howard on the same court, would avoid getting swept but the Spurs would win the series in six. Behind the youthful Kawhi Leonard along with Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili off the bench, San Antonio holds off the Lakers and advance to the next round.
Let’s go to the 2013-2014 season.
2013-2014
The Lakers enter next season with Kobe Bryant ready to help this team get further into the postseason. He played in 75 games, averaging 26.5 points per game on 45.8% shooting from the field. His all-around game was evident once again, with 5.5 rebounds per game and 6.2 assists per game as well.
Los Angeles went 50-32 under his leadership, good for fifth place in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, AI has them getting eliminated in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games, led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Regardless, it’s evident Bryant continues to play at a high level. Father Time hasn’t impacted him, yet.
2014-2015
Bryant did suffer some minor injuries during the season, missing 12 games throughout the year. But, the “Black Mamba” averaged 24.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 6.0 APG. His shooting percentage did dip a little down to 44.5%, but he improved his three-point percentage from 30 to 34.2%.
Los Angeles made the postseason once again, finishing with a 48-34 record good for sixth place in the Western Conference. Their reward was taking on the third-seeded Houston Rockets, led by James Harden and Dwight Howard. Despite a hard-fought series, Bryant and the Lakers fell in seven games.
2015-2016
The wear and tear began to show, as Bryant went from 12 to 17 games missed this season. Statistically, the decline also began. Kobe would average 22.1 PPG, shooting 42.3% from the field.
Bryant and the Lakers finished with a 45-37 record, which placed them in seventh place in the Western Conference. But, they had to deal with the juggernaut Golden State Warriors. Los Angeles fell in five games, making one thing clear: the Lakers needed to rebuild.
2016-2017
Unfortunately, like in real life, 2016 marked Kobe’s final season in the NBA. Injuries once again took its toll, missing 22 games due to injury When he was on the court, he averaged 20.5 PPG on 41.2% shooting. Yes, he was productive considering he was 37 years old. But, it was clear Bryant was in the twilight of his career.
The Western Conference was filled with many competitive teams, and the Lakers needed to be able to compete with them if they wanted to make the postseason. They failed to do so, finishing 40-42 and missing the postseason. Towards the end of the year, Bryant announced his retirement and the farewells began. His final game saw Bryant finish with 42 points. Though it wasn’t the 60-point performance he had in real life, it was still a memorable game nonetheless. Add in the fact that the Lakers competed until the very end of the season, and you would think Kobe would have preferred this scenario.
No Matter What, Another Memorable Career
Bryant would retire as one of the greatest players in NBA history. 20 years with the same team. An accomplishment not many have on their resume. He will always be remembered for his outstanding scoring ability, competitiveness, and the championships he won for the city.
Five championships. The Lakers will always be thankful to have had a player like Bryant represent their franchise. His leadership, outstanding play, and respect given to him by fans will never be replicated.
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Featured Image: Bert Young/Getty Images
