The NBA world has doubted Kobe Bryant and this day, he completely fooled them.
We might now look at his career and look at Kobe as the ultimate competitor, but that reputation was earned **and in the moment, it was anything but smooth.**
On April 12, 2013, the Lakers were on the verge of missing the playoffs.
It would be after the Lakers assembled a super team with Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Kobe Bryant, the expectations were sky high.
And perhaps more importantly after Kobe had made a promise to the world.
Throughout his career, Kobe had battled with a reputation of not being a good teammate, of not playing a style that leads to winning basketball, and that season, being overpaid, whether he still had it.
The NBA world was roasting the Lakers, at the all-star break they were 25-29, and asked if he could “get it done”.
Kobe made a declaration "It's not a question of *if* we make the playoffs. We will. And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone -- Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver ... whoever. I have zero nervousness about that,"
The Lakers are above 500 just barely, tied for the 8th seed. It’s a must win game but Kobe can’t buy a shot.
Steve Nash exits the game with his recurring hamstring injury. Kobe is also dealing with foot problems, but despite his own injury, Kobe tells Mike D’Antoni “I’m not coming out tonight”. The LAkers are down 12 in the second quarter and Kobe gets to work
Making several passes, drawing a lot of fouls, and grabbing boards. Doing everything and being a threat to bring the Lakers back. He was patient, methodical.
Kobe would play 47 minutes and 37 seconds, end with 19 points, a career high 14 assists, 9 boards and the Lakers win. Yes 14 assists because that’s what was needed to win.
The next game (April 2 vs Mavericks) against the Mavericks, 23 points 11 rebounds 11 assists 4 steals 2 blocks playing over 47 minutes. Then (April 5 vs Grizzlies) 24 points 9 assists in 43 minutes, another win.
Kobe was getting physical therapy in timeouts, commercial breaks just to play nearly every minute.
But despite Kobe playing 47 minutes in their next game (April 7 vs Clippers) dropping 25, 10, and 7, the Lakers would lose.
**Everything Kobe had been doing in the past 6 games led to the day** Kobe fooled the entire world, the day he finally was able to prove everyone wrong, but it would come at a cost. It’s the Lakers vs Warriors (*April 12 vs Warriors)*, the Lakers are the 8th seed but only one game ahead of 9th.
Baby Steph has 22 points in the first quarter including 4 3 pointers, 32 points in the first half. He is scoring in every way possible, off the dribble step backs, catch and shoots, pick and rolls. He definitely impressed Kobe and Kobe was sluggish, not scoring a single point in the first, 3 turnovers. But he was determined. He played every minute of the first quarter and he wasn’t looking to sit in the second.
He comes out firing
This is a Baby Warriors team that is 6th in the West, they are a solid team.
But Kobe break’s Klay’s ankles
In the third quarter, Kobe drives past Barnes
As Kobe laid on the floor, the entire arena went silent, everyone preparing for the inevitable. Everyone knew Kobe had pushed himself beyond his limits. This had to be it. Kobe was emotionless. He hit the free throws and he was back to playing like nothing had happened.
And then Kobe drives, double clutches, and begins limping
Both of Kobe’s legs were hurt, he had nothing left to stand on but his own will. And yet, he still didn’t come out. Kobe was battling father time, battling the limits of his own body, the quitter allegations, the can’t win without Shaq statements
The Warriors are still up, Steph is on fire, Klay is heating up, and the Lakers need every bit of Kobe to keep the team a float. Him just being on the floor is putting pressure on the defense, Klay has 5 fouls.
The Lakers take a timeout and Kobe is struggling to walk back to the bench
At this moment, Kobe has torn his achilles, an injury that is a death sentence for athletes. And even then this is what he said was going through his mind.
Kobe labored his way back to the free throw line, just to give him a chance to keep playing in the game. And as he’s shooting the free throws, Kobe is stoic. Not a word, barely an expression, just focused. He makes both, the game is tied, and eventually with some help walks to the locker room.
Kobe had pushed his body to the absolute limit for the sole purpose of winning, trying to play two full games back to back. People remember the moment of him tearing his achilles and coming back to the free throw line, but what they don’t remember is the accumulation of what Kobe did for the Lakers.