After playing only six games during the 2013-14 NBA season, Kobe Bryant was shutdown for the year due to a knee fracture.
— Lakers Nation Store Is Back! Check Out The Latest Gear! —
With Kobe going down with a season-ending injury for the second straight year, many have questioned how much the five-time NBA champion might have left in the tank. Even though Kobe believes he’s still an elite player in the NBA, it remains to be seen if that will be the case once he returns next season.
Following a return from a short vacation in France, Kobe got back to work immediately with an intense six-month training program in April in order to get his body back to form.
According to Sam Amick of USA Today, trainer Tim Grover says Kobe’s recovery is going very well:
Just spoke w/ renowned trainer Tim Grover for Finals-related piece, but of course had to ask about Kobe's recovery: "Better than expected."
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 4, 2014
Kobe will turn 36 in August and will be entering potentially the last two years of his NBA career after a signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension with the Lakers back in November of 2013.
— Think You Know Everything About Kobe Bryant? Take The Ultimate Kobe Quiz! —
With all the uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of the Lakers franchise, there’s no telling who will be playing alongside Kobe next season or even for the rest of his career.
The Lakers brass will attempt to rebuild around an aging Kobe this summer and the next, but there’s no guarantee the team will be able to make the right moves with limited options. The team will have considerable cap space at their disposal, but few trade assets to upgrade the squad immediately with a proven star.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Aaron Gordon: One on One Interview: NBA Pre-Draft Workouts