Kobe Bryant is not being shy about his intentions to return to the Los Angeles Lakers this season and be the same dominant player fans are used to. The veteran suffered yet another injury setback after fracturing his left knee just six games after returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered at the end of last season. Now out for another six weeks, Bryant is not hearing the criticism regarding his return and other players are backing his belief.
Speaking to the media before the Lakers' Christmas Day game against the Miami Heat, Bryant stressed that he has no intentions of shutting himself down for the season. He is not aiming to pull a Derek Rose. While some NBA analysts believe Bryant really has no reason for returning this year, he sees things differently.
"My philosophy on that kind of stuff is: Do your job," Bryant said, via ESPN.com. "You owe it to the organization and your teammates to get ready as fast and as quickly as you possibly can and to come back as strong as you possibly can."
Charles Barkley was one that spoke out against the return of Bryant. He believes the Lakers are nowhere near being a top team and will only get worse with Bryant out again. When he does get back, it might be too late, so why play?
"Kobe Bryant shouldn't play anymore this year. They should shut him down, because you know how our bodies are. Your body always over-compensates when it's hurt. There is no doubt in my mind this has something to do with the Achilles," Barkley said on TNT NBA pre-game show.
While Bryant certainly disagrees with Barkley, LeBron James also believes the Lakers star should return when ready. The Miami Heat star was in full support of his veteran competitor saying the NBA is not the same if Bryant is not on the court.
"It's not as special when Kobe's not out there. Let's be honest," James said. "I love coming out and going up against one of the best. One of the greatest competitors we have going in our game. I've been hearing reports about people giving their stupid opinion about what he should do. He's not going to sit. That's not him. That's not in his nature. He's an alpha male. He's going to get healthy, and he's going to play the game that he loves and has been playing forever."
James believe everyone is at their best when going up against Bryant. The newly crowned AP Athlete of the Year is confident that Bryant will be back this season in the same dominating fashion and the Lakers star is certainly eager to prove that statement true.
"It gives me a great opportunity to look at some of the issues or challenges I might have been having physically in other areas and then now I can readjust my program and come back even better," Bryant said.