No Deal Hurts Black Mamba

     Kobe Bryant has five championship rings, one NBA MVP, two NBA Finals MVP's, thirteen all-star appearances, two scoring titles, nine first team ALL-NBA selections, nine all-defensive first team selections, four NBA all-star game MVP's, one NBA slam dunk contest championship, the second highest single game scoring record (81 points), and was the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 1996. The Black Mamba is one of few to draw comparisons to Michael Jordan, the greatest ever. In my opinion, he is the second most prolific guard ever to play the game next to M.J. He is still the best closer the National Basketball Association has to offer. With all that being said, however, the clock is ticking on the world's greatest ball player.
     Number 24 is aging, as is his knee. Kobe has now played fifteen seasons in the league. He needs that sixteenth season to commence as soon as possible. If the lockout does not come to an end, Kobe will suffer the consequences. He will miss a full 82 game schedule and continue to both age and migrate from his prime simultaneously.
     Now, Mr. Bryant is ready to play overseas if David Stern's owners don't chill and his players don't sacrifice. Having personally seen professionals play in Italy, I know for a fact that European ball is not NBA ball. It is far from the same. As Lil Wayne says, it is far from the usual. It will not benefit Kobe much like another season in his comfort zone (the NBA) would. That comfort zone is beginning to dwindle, and if the Black Mamba wants a shot to at least match Jordan's six rings, he needs to find himself in the NBA playoffs pronto before his knee decides to retire.
     The Los Angeles Lakers are built to win now. The Lakers are not Hollywood's team. They are Kobe's team, and until he retires, will always have a shot at winning some bling (regardless of who the coach is). The superstar claims he has had more time this off-season to get in the weight room and get his body stronger  than he has in years past. If there is no season, then it has been nearly a wasted off-season for a man who doesn't believe in off-seasons. It removes one more year of Kobe eligibility and makes the culmination of the decline of his career more evident.
     I believe Kobe can pull out one more championship from his bag of tricks. He has a few years left of superstardom within. He just needs the NBA to return to form sooner than later so he can perform while he still has some sort of youth. If David Stern announces the cancellation of the season, it will be a sad day for Kobe Bryant.