Not even Michael Jordan experienced 16 consecutive seasons, let alone 20, which Bryant is entering this year.
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“This is uncharted territory,” Bryant said, via USA Today. “My 37 (years old) isn’t MJ’s 37 (when Jordan returned to play for the Wizards after taking two seasons off), you know what I mean? Nor is it the same team or the same system that he was playing in. It’s much, much different. There’s really no barometer, no (precedent) for training physically, for recovery.”
Bryant is right in that he hasn’t retired from the game on two occasions like Jordan did, and that he has already played in 208 more games than Jordan.
Known to fight through injuries over his career, Bryant played in just 35 games last season before suffering a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in January. It was the third major injury for Bryant in the past two years. He previously suffered a torn Achilles and broke a bone his left leg.
“Just play the game that’s right in front of you,” said Bryant, who has made it clear he’s unsure whether he’ll retire after the season. “That means a lot at this age to be able to do that, when you can react to situations, when you have the physical capability to react to situations, the skills are still there to react to situations."
One thing Bryant and the Lakers can control is his playing time. Coach Byron Scott said Bryant will have a hard minutes cap this season, and may sit out certain back-to-back games.
“I’ve trained really hard to get to this point, and you have to be comfortable with that,” Bryant said. “Whatever happens is really beyond your control.”
