The Return of "The Black Mamba" Kobe Bryant
(Needs grammar check)
The long wait is over for all the Kobe and Lakers fans out there. Kobe Bryant will now be rejoining the team and he will play his first game this season against the Toronto Raptors. Yes, the same team where he dropped a record breaking 81 points a couple of years ago.
Though he will not be given heavy minutes right away as Coach Mike D’Antoni opted Kobe to play just about 20-something minutes against Toronto tonight at Staples Center in downtown LA, it’s still good to see Kobe returning inside the hardcourt.
“He’s not going to be above the rim for a while, which is fine,” D’Antoni said. “There’s been great players that have played below the rim. He’ll have to do that for a little bit.”
Kobe’s return will raise the playoff as well as the championship hopes of the Lakers Nation. Knowing Kobe, he will try to bounce back this time and try to put his tim again on his back as they climb the NBA Western Conference standings. Lakers fans have high hopes on him because he gave them multiple championships in the past decade. The Lakers’ locker room, huddle, and stadium will surely be fractious the moment they come across Kobe’s path.
Last April 12, 2013, Kobe Bryant ruptured his Achilles against the Golden State Warriors and most were left wondering if age is finally catching up on him. After months of rehabilitation and numerous practices, Bryant will make his highly-projected return against the Toronto Raptors. Instead of trying to strengthen the ligaments around the Achilles, Bryant immediately had surgery the following day to speed up the recovery process. Only four months after the surgery, Bryant made headlines during his visit to China when he informed fans that he “shattered” the expected recovery time and was already able to walk and lift weights.
As Kobe Bryant returns to the court, he is also extremely motivated to prove his doubters wrong. Throughout the entire recovery process, many were cynical that he would be able to return at a high-level due to his age and the harshness of the injury. With the Lakers exceeding expectations, Kobe Bryant will look to lead the Lakers deep into the playoffs.
The entire Lakers organization were so excited that they even made a customized “Kobe’s Return” shirt. So expect a high intensity crowd wearing Black Mamba shirts come game time!
