Lakers’ Bryant set to bounce back from injury-plagued season

DPA/Los Angeles

As Kobe Bryant embarks on the final chapter of his illustrious NBA career, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is determined to prove he’s still driven to succeed, heading into his 19th season.

At 36, Bryant is poised to make a comeback after fracturing his right knee last December. That injury followed a torn left Achilles tendon suffered at the end of the 2012-13 campaign that sent the five-time NBA champion to the sidelines after just six games last season.

“The Achilles injury ignited a new challenge,” Bryant told reporters earlier this month at media day.

“My concerns are probably no different than everybody else’s in terms of being able to come back from this. If I can be myself, if I can prove to myself that I can do this thing, I think I’ll prove it to everybody else as well.”

“I’ve always been that way, though,” he continued. “I feel that makes for a much healthier journey. It’s much more enjoyable to look to the side every now and then and look at who you’re proving wrong in the process. That’s never been the main driver for me.”

Bryant is also out to prove the naysayers wrong, who think the future sure-shot Hall of Famer has slowed down, and will be a shadow of himself during the grueling 82-game schedule.

In their annual pre-season poll of the top 500 players, ESPN ranked Bryant - the NBA’s fourth all-time leading scorer - as the 40th best player in the league.

Bryant dismissed the survey as meaningless.

“I’ve known for a long time they’re a bunch of idiots,” he laughed.  “I tend to use things as motivation that tends to be in the realm of reality.”

“I think he probably gets a kick out of it,” said new Lakers head coach Byron Scott of his former teammate and close friend. “I think he’ll have the last laugh.”

Scott predicts the ‘Black Mamba’ will strike with strong numbers, as the two try to turn around the fortunes of the storied club, which is coming off one of its worst seasons (27-55) in franchise history.

“I’m expecting him to play all 82 games and play well,” Scott said.

“The guy will have 23-24 points a game.”

Bryant wiped off the rust and showed his old form in the pre-season.  He averaged 19 points - including scoring 27, 26 and 27 in his last three games - as well as four assists and three rebounds while shooting just 39.6 per cent from the field in 26.7 minutes of play through six contests.

“I’m feeling fine,” Bryant has maintained since going through his first workout. “The physical checkpoints are all done.

“I don’t have any thoughts of what I can do or what I can’t do. I’m just letting it flow. I’m ready to go.”

Scott held Bryant out of the Lakers’ finale on Friday.

“I just think he needs some rest,” Scott said. “I think he’s shown me enough.

“I think each game he’s just getting a little bit stronger. He’s feeling a little bit more comfortable, confident and close to where we want him to be.”

Bryant, along with veteran additions Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin, and top draft choice Julius Randall, tip off the regular-season Tuesday, when the Lakers host the James Harden- and Dwight Howard-led Houston Rockets at the Staples Center.

“We’re going to play smash-mouth basketball,” Bryant said. “We’re going to be nasty. We’re going to be physical. We’re a grind-out team.”