Laker fan favorite Kobe Bryant turns 34 today and what better way to celebrate than highlight him on this special day.
Even though this year was wishy-washy for the Lakers, Kobe did come home right before his big day with a USA Gold medal to add to his collection of other impressive awards and honors. Many NBA players don’t last as long as he has in the league, and with Kobe entering his 17th NBA season, he still has a lot to bring to the table.
I picked today’s photograph for a reason; it is unbelievable to think that Bryant can go up against someone 10 years younger, like Jeremy Lin, who shares his birth-date with Bryant, and still be a dominant force on the court. Lin is 24 today, and I am sure still trembles at the thought of having to guard Bryant.
After 17 years, how does Kobe do it? It is amazing that throughout this time, Kobe has avoided any severe injuries that would have eliminated him from significant playing time. A game here or there is much different than missing half a year, like many of today’s younger athletes have experienced. All in all he has stayed healthy. Kobe knows the benefits of eating right and controlling his diet rather than having a careless attitude or mindset in terms of what he puts in his body on a daily basis. Kobe stresses other healthy habits like exercising, putting aside time to decompress, helping others and an emphasis on appreciating everything and everyone around you along with practicing good nutrition. Great advice from a superstar.
Also, don’t forget to check out our compilation of the top 10 Kobe pictures of the year. Make sure to look out for our fan Friday tomorrow where we highlight one of your videos in honor of our favorite Lakers guard.
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Devin Ebanks Waited to Sign with Lakers Until Dwight Howard Trade [LA Times]
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Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak on the Dwight Howard Deal: “We Thought it was Dead” [Ball Don’t Lie]
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‘It Was Over’: Retracing How Lakers Got Dwight Howard After All [OC Register]
Is Kobe Bryant Really Worth $27.8 million? Yes [LA Times]
Andrew Bynum Benefited from Kobe Bryant’s Mentoring [20 Second Timeout]
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Anthony Davis Went Eyebrow-Heavy on his Hand-Drawn Rookie Cards [SI.com]
NBA All-Star Walter Davis to Auction 1976 USA Basketball Gold Medal [Eye on Basketball]
Hoops Fan Obama Says Opponents ‘Play a Little Dirty’ [Yahoo Sports]
Stan Van Gundy: Will Derrick Rose Ditch the Bulls if They Can’t Land More Stars? [Eye on Basketball]
The Rookie Extension and the Race Against Time [Hardwood Paroxysm]
Quincy Acy Totally Nailed his Rookie Photo Shoot [The Basketball Jones]
Jeff Green’s Celtics Deal is Official [ESPN]
New York Knicks New Uniforms Leaked? [Eye on Basketball]