Should Kobe play overseas during any extended lockout by the NBA owners. Absolutely not! I understanding the reasoning behind it, but I don’t think that any of those reasons support the Lakers cause of pursuing a championship during the next NBA season.
Time off during the lockout would benefit all of the Lakers who have been to three NBA finals the previous years. In Kobe’s case, his knee could get stronger and he could avoid the wear and tear that comes with playing professional league basketball. There is also the risk of injury to a player that is playing with an arthritic finger in his shooting hand. If the season gets cancelled, there would be ample time to get surgery on that finger and be back in time for the season opener without any missed games. Let’s not forget that taking this much needed rest could extend his basketball career another year. For a player who rarely practiced with his team during the NBA season due to knee issues, there are a bunch of pros associated with rest, but a lot of cons associated with playing overseas.
We all get that Kobe is a basketball player to the core. We all understand that this could be a leverage ploy with other top NBA players to force the NBA owners’ hands during the lockout. We all get that this could add to your international appeal and marketability which is tops amongst NBA players. We all get that you could make more money that you most likely don’t need. But do all of these things mean more than winning another championship or two? Kobe’s NBA legacy is already cemented with his past successes, but the opportunity to add to that legacy is still out there and it shouldn’t be foolishly tampered with.
Believe it or not, Kobe is in pursuit of a legacy. His legacy is already amongst the all time best that have ever laced up a pair of basketball shoes. He actually dares to grow his legacy to be considered the all time best with Jordan and anyone else in that lofty stratosphere. How else do you explain his continuous thirst for more rings even though he already has five of them? Getting six like Jordan would be nice. Getting one or more than Jordan would be perfect. But championships aren’t easy. Kobe is a vital part to the hopes of the Lakers organization catching and possibly exceeding the Celtics for the most championships for an organization.
We as fans love seeing legacies blossom and reach a height that so few if any can ever reach. Other than Kobe, today’s generation of players offers little chance to see something like this which includes Lebron James. So take my advice Kobe. Playing for a team in Turkey or any other overseas organization just is not worth what your legacy could become.
