The latest LA Lakers news is buzzing about the ranking that Sports Illustrated on Kobe Bryant which says that 23 others players are better than him heading into next season. He may be old and coming off an injury, but the Black Mamba is determined not to become another Trace McGrady.
According to the LA Lakers news from Sports Illustrated, Kobe Bryant is ranked 24th in the list of active players this season. In the accompanying explanation, the article noted that the shooting guard is a question mark after coming back from an Achillles and knee injury.
"The 'ifs' continue from there. If anyone can do it, his legion of fans would argue, it would be Bryant. And, if he were really in trouble physically, the Lakers wouldn't have given him a two-year, $48 million deal last November, right?" the article noted.
However, the long layoff from competitive basketball was the main reason why Kobe Bryant slipped from the top 10 spot and into a rank "surrounded by others with uncertain fates and injury issues."
"But if he can somehow push back against Father Time, even just for a season, Bryant will get an opportunity to do what he seems to love more than almost anything: make his media doubters look bad," the rankings list noted.
Meanwhile, columnist Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report revealed more LA Lakers news when he wrote that Kobe Bryant is taking motivation from Tracy McGrady, another all-world talent who retired too soon due to injuries and poor work ethic.
He also talked to the long-time physical therapist, Judy Seto, who said that some people may work hard when the spotlights are on or when the cameras are rolling.
"His motivation isn't someone else. It's within him. It's this internal drive that he has," she said. "And he's smarter now. He's not one to sugarcoat things. I think he has a very good handle on what his abilities are and what he's able to accomplish and what he's not."
