No matter how much you hate or dislike Kobe Bryant, you can never defy his greatness and talent as a basketball player. The NBA has never been truly the same without him and with the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory (98-95) awhile ago versus the Denver Nuggets—it was such a pleasant sight to see him return onto the hardwood once again.
Bryant ended up with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, had 5 assists but also 3 turnovers in 21 minutes of playing time. Most importantly, he looked liked (almost) his old dominant self as he efficiently knocked down his patented fadeway jumpers, post moves, and made plays for his other teammates as well. The entire crowd definitely saw a glimpse of vintage Mamba.
And right after the game, it was clear that he’s definitely feeling much better than ever, according to Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times.
Kobe: "I felt like I could do anything I wanted."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 7, 2014
However, it’s still too early to assume anything much after just this first game and it’s a preseason game—so not all players put in their 100 percent effort all throughout. Kobe may be healthier than every this season but he still has to monitor constantly his body to avoid another setback that may prove to be fatal to his legendary career.
In line with this, fellow veteran Steve Nash must continue to stay healthy for his (possibly) final season. Both he and Kobe played well in their first game back from injuries, which is certainly a good sign for all Lakers fans.
Their next preseason game will be on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10:30 EDT.