Kobe: "New Goal. Play until I'm 40"

[NashtyNas]

Kobe, just stop. You will not pass Jordan, even with 10 rings.

[Joker]

For those using the Grant Hill example, Hill's played ~37000 total career season/playoff minutes --- 23000 less than what Kobe's played.

[JellosJigglin]

I have learned to accept that Kobe should never be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan.

-Kobe had a 4 year head start going from high school to the pros...Jordan was at UNC for 4 years

-Kobe has lost in the finals more then once...Jordan has won every final appearance and had MVP

-Jordan retired twice, missing 2 years early on and few more years after the 6th championship.

If Jordan never retired and went from HS to college he would have such separation from the pack it'd be insane.

Cool story bro

Just so you know, your idol actually said Kobe is the only player worthy of being compared to him. I think Jordan knows himself better than you do.

[thewhat]

Kobe already passed Wizards Jordan in minutes

Some of the stuff he is doing is Kareem like. We probably wont see it surpassed well until LeBron James hits his mid 30s

[reue45754444]

I read the whole thing, maybe there is a slight misunderstanding. He did not say he'd play for Lakers until 40. I'll try to translate the rest of the text:

"Istanbul is an amazing city, one of the best I've ever seen. I always encourage my friends to visit there...
I am sorry for Hedo's injury, I had it too, it will heal soon...
some nice words for Turkish basketball, Mehmet Okur, Hedo, Asik and Ersan...
Loves soccer. Fan of Barcelona and Galatasaray...
Messi is a close friend, we just had an commercial shoot with him for Turkish Airlines. I've been to Galatasaray practice too...
I have a new aim. I'll play until 40. We got a lot stronger with new players this year...
I did not come to Besiktas, because I had a hand injury and also wanted to spend time with family. Maybe one day, I will...
Next summer, my family and I will be in Turkey again, this time for a very long vacation..."

[Joker]

I dunno how you figure Kobe's going to play +12k minutes this year.... your math is a bit off. Remember speaking of mileage Kobe's first two years he played fewer minutes where Malone was a full time starter his rookie season on through into his 19th year.

Right now Kobe's at 42.5k regular season and 8.6k playoffs. Add in another 2-3k this season and he's still around 9-10k off Malone's career mark of 63k.

I think nba.com's math is a little off:

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kobe_brya ... stats.html

They have him at 17,281 playoff minutes.

Basketball reference has him at 8.6k : http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ffs_totals

[NYKBaller]

prolly realized hes not winning a ring this year

[butimnotarapper]

You guys are really hating on kobe for wanting to play longer? Because he will never reach the mythical beast that is the untouchable legendary greatness of on sir Michael Jordan?

Wow by that logic why did he ever play in the NBA to begin with?? Actually why is anyone playing in the NBA? No basketball will ever be better then what happened 20 years ago so might as well cancel the whole NBA and just run replays of jordan's playoff games every year forever!!

Get over yourselves. The guy loves the game, its been his whole life since he was born. If the opportunity arises where he gets to still play for a contender and at an elite level for a few more years before he packs it in for good who wouldn't take that opportunity?

funny how no one ever responds to logical posts haha

[Mr Grant Hill]

I read the whole thing, maybe there is a slight misunderstanding. He did not say he'd play for Lakers until 40. I'll try to translate the rest of the text:

"Istanbul is an amazing city, one of the best I've ever seen. I always encourage my friends to visit there...
I am sorry for Hedo's injury, I had it too, it will heal soon...
some nice words for Turkish basketball, Mehmet Okur, Hedo, Asik and Ersan...
Loves soccer. Fan of Barcelona and Galatasaray...
Messi is a close friend, we just had an commercial shoot with him for Turkish Airlines. I've been to Galatasaray practice too...
I have a new aim. I'll play until 40. We got a lot stronger with new players this year...
I did not come to Besiktas, because I had a hand injury and also wanted to spend time with family. Maybe one day, I will...
Next summer, my family and I will be in Turkey again, this time for a very long vacation..."

yep, then add this:

"You'd have to look at the market and what's going on in terms of the level of basketball being played," Bryant said. "I understand there's a high level of competitive basketball in Turkey now. They might have the best league in Europe. Spain has obviously been one of the top leagues for a long time.

"And Italy is a place that's dear in my heart, I grew up there, but the level is not where it used to be. When I was growing up over there, that was the best league in Europe."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics-- ... nture.html

And this:

“You think I’d hang around and average 18 points, 19 points… hell no.”

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... ase-rings/

And then you'll know where this is heading to: he's gonna leave the country.

[kblo247]

First off Kobe has spent half his life in the league. In fact he's lived in LA longer than anything else. It's only natural to want to do what you know and love because its his life's work after all these years.

Secondly he wouldn't be gunning for Mike. He'd be gunning for Kareem and the goals he stated when he first entered the league which was to play in 10 nba finals as a Laker

Lastly he could very well to to italy to play for the team his dad and Pringles did as he owns half of it and it is part of what go him into basketball anyhow at a young age.

[LoyalKing]

Changed his mind to ride Howard's cock during his prime.

Typical Kobe. He wants to have more rings than MJ, but he can have 10 and i still take MJ over him any day of the week.

[RatherUnique]

Yeah. He's playing really well right now.

He probably thinks he has way too much left in the tank to call it quits, and he's right.

He's also very close to Kareem in regular season points & Jordan in playoff points and NBA titles.

Combine that with how well he's going offensively and retiring after next season just isn't likely.

I for one am stunned at how well he's held up in comparison to everyone else in his draft class. Everyone else is either out of the league or coming off the bench.

[Tirion]

Kobe's going after Russell.

But seriously, dude is 34 and still dropping 26 ppg on 70%+ TS. His skillset will allow him to play to his 40's if he chooses.

It's crazy that he's still the best SG in the NBA in his 17th year.

Nice bait post.

Kobe's career highest TS% is 58% and yeah, you can't count 2012-13.

[Joseph17]

Kobe will probably play until he's 50. He'll go overseas or play in a minor league if he has to. I can't picture Kobe being away from playing for a long period of time.

[Dupp]

Whens kobes contact run out? You know what's gonna happen, he'll stay in LA for cheap and they'll be able to add another great player to add to the 4 stars they already have.

[LGND2552]

So much hate in this thread, for what? What did Kobe ever do to you lol.
People say he won't catch Jordan, then why do you have a problem with him playing till he's 40? Your idol's position is safe at the top, so let the dude do his job and what he loves. Why doesn't anyone give players like pierce, Duncan, Garnett, etc crap for still playing? They're not the #1 options on their teams, and nor are their respective teams the favorites to win it all. When Kobe plays longer, it's "oh trying too hard to catch Jordan, try hard" but when Duncan or Garnett play its "man those guys have serious heart, playing at this age still". Makes no sense.

Kobe does not look like the #1 option on the team. He's playing off the ball, hitting jumpers and playing a good role, only to go into Kobe mode when the team needs it. He's had a few big games so far, but so have pierce/Duncan haven't they? Duncan went for some monster stats against OKC. Does that mean he was hogging the ball and trying too hard to be the best big man ever? Obviously not.

Double standards. Smh

[RexBoyWonder]

I hope he plays untill he's 45 and makes the same 27-30 Mil $ every year.

That will make sure the Lakers aren't winning the ship for the next decade.

[minifang]

I would love it if he would resign at a lower price, maybe something around Nash salary (~9 million). This gives the Lakers the option to add someone like Kevin Love.

[GoldKnightRises]

Kobe says "Play until I'm 40"

Haters say "how f**kin dare you say you're better than MJ if you win 7 rings!!!!???"

Gotta love Kobe haters, they become more and more obvious with they're hate as the years pass by, comical

If you don't feel threatened from Jordan being dethroned as the GOAT, then don't post about it every chance you get, makes you seem so insecure.

[gotokyo]

You guys are really hating on kobe for wanting to play longer? Because he will never reach the mythical beast that is the untouchable legendary greatness of on sir Michael Jordan?

Wow by that logic why did he ever play in the NBA to begin with?? Actually why is anyone playing in the NBA? No basketball will ever be better then what happened 20 years ago so might as well cancel the whole NBA and just run replays of jordan's playoff games every year forever!!

Get over yourselves. The guy loves the game, its been his whole life since he was born. If the opportunity arises where he gets to still play for a contender and at an elite level for a few more years before he packs it in for good who wouldn't take that opportunity?

funny how no one ever responds to logical posts haha

I just need to start using realGM logic. "Nuh uh kOb3 da best Eva, 5 ringzz bout 2 hav 10 wh3n he finished. Jord4n old he lyke 50, no wai he budder den kOb3"

That will teach them!