With Kobe Bryant playing in only six games last season, no one really knows what to expect from the five-time NBA champion heading into his 19th year in the league. Although Kobe is as confident as ever he’ll bounce back, the odds are definitely not in his favor that he’ll be the same player at 36 following consecutive season-ending injuries.
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Recently, Kobe got back on the basketball floor for some to play some competitive five-on-five at the Lakers practice facility. There’s been no video of the veteran guard participating in these scrimmages with training camp around the corner, but he’s received raves reviews from teammates and his new head coach, Byron Scott.
Scott talked about Kobe’s participation in recent scrimmages and the impact it has had on his teammates, via TWCSportsNet:
Not only has Kobe looked solid at the practice facility with training camp less than a week away, but Steve Nash has also turned some heads as well. If both Nash and Kobe are healthy and playing at an elite level once again, the Lakers could surprise some people right out of the gate next season.
The consensus heading into the 2014-15 NBA season is the team’s two superstars will not be the same elite players of old, but if they are, it could be a game-changer for Lakers.
[divide]Kobe Bryant’s Big Drop In Sports Illustrated’s 2014 NBA Player Rankings
