Kobe Bryant Updates Possible Return Timetable, Reveals All-Time Starting 5

[Higher Tech]

Kobe Bryant Updates Possible Return Timetable, Reveals All-Time Starting 5 | Bleacher Report

Kobe Bryant can be an open book when he wants to be. Speaking on ESPNLA 710 in Los Angeles, he wanted to be.

Asked about when he thought he would return from his ruptured Achilles, Kobe told Lakers.com's Mike Trudell and Lakers radio voice John Ireland that he's aiming to play before 2014:


Returning in November or December wouldn't put Kobe back in the lineup in time for opening day like he was originally hoping for.

Still, coming back one month (two months tops) into the season is far better than the Los Angeles Lakers being forced to play without him until the All-Star break.

When he was on crutches, Dwight Howard and the Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Los Angeles needs Bryant to help shoulder some of the burden, especially if Superman leaves.

Injury talk being as depressing as it is, Kobe was kind enough to provide more than just some inside information on his rehab. He also revealed who his all-time starting five would be (via ESPNLA's Arash Markazi):

Magic, Jordan, Bird, Russell and Kareem is Kobe's all-time starting five. @ESPNLA710

Personally, I'm surprised Kobe didn't name himself. A year or two ago, I believe he would've. Shameless bravado is a specialty of his.

Pushing 35, Kobe runs deeper than self-confidence now. This season, we saw a humbler, more pensive Mamba. And it's showed even through injury.

Because everything comes back to Howard, I can't help but wonder if he missed an opportunity to score some brownie points for the Lakers in their continued pursuit of the big man. Naming him to his all-time starting five would have been both unfounded and the ultimate form of flattery.

However, he was probably better off being honest. No one would have taken him seriously. I doubt Kobe himself could have gotten through that list with a straight face.

Speaking of which, he predicted where Howard and Chris Paul are headed (via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News):

Kobe on Chris Paul/Dwight Howard: "I think at the end of the day, everybody stays."

That's good news for Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers fans, but it's bad news for Donald Sterling's ever-closed wallet.

Alas, these forthcoming sentiments are yet another reason why Kobe is among the best in the league. This type of jovial honesty used to follow every Lakers win, and the cold, hard truth would come after every loss.

We miss that. Interviews and basketball in general can seem so bland without him.

November or December can't get here soon enough.

Couldn't get the tweets to embed, but Magic, Jordan, Bird, Russell and Kareem is Kobe's all-time starting five.

 

[DallasTxRep]

Surprised he didn't name himself

 

[Captain Crunch]

Surprised he didn't name himself

The fukkery if he did though
You know and good well he don't wanna put Bron in top 5, he fronting w/ Bird

 

[Higher Tech]

The fukkery if he did though
You know and good well he don't wanna put Bron in top 5, he fronting w/ Bird

 

[Dwight Howard]

The fukkery if he did though
You know and good well he don't wanna put Bron in top 5, he fronting w/ Bird

nah no front. He's always respected the fearless competitor type.

 

[Buckeye Fever]

By the dynamics of that team, id pick bird over lebron too

 

[IGSaint12]

"I'm shooting for November, December (at the) latest," Bryant said. "That's my goal in my head. That's what I'm shooting for. I'm really, really determined about getting there. As soon as they take the governor off when they think the tendon is strong enough for me to be able to progress to doing really heavy weights and more conditioning and things like that, then it's on me. I won't have any fear or any worry of the tendon rupturing again. There's nothing I can do about it. If it goes again, it goes again. But once I'm ready to go, it's going to be on."

More fearless than rose ever was or will be

 

[Brozay]

More fearless than rose ever was or will be

yeah we ll see if rose gives a fukk when he has a seamless transition back to his MVP level and kobe is shooting on a hobbled achilles 40%

 

[Harry B]

If I'm playing with two centers, I'd rather have Shaq over Bill Russell if we exclude rings from this conversation.

 

[IGSaint12]

yeah we ll see if rose gives a fukk when he has a seamless transition back to his MVP level and kobe is shooting on a hobbled achilles 40%

If the doctors give the ok then not much you can do about it. If it breaks again, it breaks again.

 

[Brozay]

If I'm playing with two centers, I'd rather have Shaq over Bill Russell if we exclude rings from this conversation.

does he compliment KAJ better though?

id probably prefer hakeem and wilt.

 

[blackzeus]

If I'm playing with two centers, I'd rather have Shaq over Bill Russell if we exclude rings from this conversation.

Hakeem had Shaq for breakfast, and you'd take him over Russell? I'd take Hakeem over Russell before I'd take Shaq.

 

[Harry B]

does he compliment KAJ better though?

id probably prefer hakeem and wilt.

I don't know really, It's hard comparing old players to modern ones.
The reason I picked Shaq over Wilt is cause, Shaq seems to fit better in a team where he can share the work with others.

Hakeem had Shaq for breakfast, and you'd take him over Russell? I'd take Hakeem over Russell before I'd take Shaq.

Fair enough, he's definitely up for discussion in my indefinite 5. Shaq was young though and Hakeem in his prime. From what I remember and have observed; free throws, defense and the fact that he can act as a PF as well he might, just might be above Shaq.

 

[Brozay]

I don't know really, It's hard comparing old players to modern ones.

agreedd

The reason I picked Shaq over Wilt is cause, Shaq seems to fit better in a team where he can share the work with others.

wilt proved he could play around good talent and move the ball. he was better defensively too


cant go wrong with prime diesel though, not something im really arguing against, i get it.