The Los Angeles Lakers should be feeling really good for the upcoming season, as superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant showed everybody during scrimmage that age won't change a bit his potent fade-away jumper.
After undergoing two major surgeries the past two seasons, the 36-year old Bryant was in his vintage self in Wednesday's scrimmage at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, California.
The Black Mamba was in his elements, easily knocking down turnaround fade-away jumpers over the outstretched arms of his defenders several times during 5-on-5 scrimmage.
Looking for evidence? Well, Mike Trudell of ESPN Los Angeles just posted one on his Twitter account, proving that age is just a number for the former NBA MVP and arguably the greatest Laker of all time.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Bryant revealed that retirement really crossed his mind after suffering a ruptured ACL towards the end of the 2012-13 season and a knee injury that abruptly ended his 2013-14 season campaign after playing just six games.
Nevertheless, the Lakers superstar acknowledged that his feeling better than ever after surgeries and ready to play more years, perhaps beyond the two years left in his current deal.
"The biggest key for anybody in retirement is you always want to retire by choice," Bryant told Yahoo Sports. "Hopefully, I will be fortunate enough to have that option. You don't want to see another catastrophic injury or something like that. When you walk away, you want to feel like you walked away on your terms."
"Whether I do or not, we'll have to see that two years from now," Bryant said. "I don't know, but I could [play longer]. Physically, I don't see an end to the tunnel."
Lakers head coach Byron Scott also agreed that Bryant will still be a force to be reckoned with the offensive end of the floor. Then again, he insisted that keeping his health will be one of his top priorities through the grueling 82-game season.
"I expect him to play 82 games and play well," Scott said. "He is a guy that is going to still average 23, 24 points per game. Our biggest thing is making sure he stays healthy and keeping his minutes to a minimum where he can play 82 games."
"I've had a chance to sit and talk to Kobe. I had a chance to see him work out. I had a chance to see him play five-on-five. He's far from retired."
And a Kobe baseline fadeaway. Swish. He looks like ... well ... Kobe. Age can't do much to that move. https://t.co/JIzGnCZRQI
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 1, 2014
Bryant will be playing his 18th season in the league, 25.5 points, 4.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds throughout his legendary Lakers career.
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