Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — One more for the Lakers’ 24.
Los Angeles Lakers talisman Kobe Bryant has been given a clean bill of health ahead of what will be his 20th National Basketball Association (NBA) campaign, according to reports.
This comes after Bryant’s past three consecutive seasons were cut short by injuries.
Bryant’s unfortunate run with injuries started out in the 2012-13 season when he ruptured his Achilles tendon on April 12 against the Golden State Warriors. After surgery to repair the tendon, Kobe returned to the court on December later that year.
Unfortunately for the “Black Mamba”, suffered a fracture in his left knee just a fortnight later. The injury eventually forced Bryant to miss the entire 2013-14 season.
The next season saw head coach Byron Scott reduce Bryant’s workload at various periods during the season, in order to give the 17-time NBA All-Star more time to recover. It was all for naught though, as Bryant tore a rotator cuff on his right shoulder against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 2015.
Bryant went under the knife yet again to repair the injury, which resulted in him ending the season prematurely once more.
In an interview with Jamele Hill on the BET Experience last July, Kobe himself admitted that next season could potentially be his last.
It might be. You gotta retire sometime, ” said Bryant. “I’m not Benjamin Button, man.”
Related: Kobe Bryant says next season “might be” his last
Should Kobe hang up his jersey at the end of next season, he does so with five NBA championships, two NBA finals MVP awards, and one regular season MVP under his belt.
Next season would also see him surpass Utah Jazz legend John Stockton for most seasons spent with a single team.
Will the the Black Mamba show off vintage form in what could be his last hurrah? Or will the injury bug rear its ugly head again?
Only time will tell.
