ahimes@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

On Friday night, the basketball world witnessed perhaps its worst nightmare of the year: Kobe Bean Bryant struggling to walk off the court. As fans hoped and prayed that it wasn’t serious, it turned out to be a torn achilles tendon, and we don’t know when he will be back.

Some Laker fans are crushed because the season seems doomed. Laker haters, and, in this case, the least important people, took to Twitter to show how happy they were, but it’s everyday basketball fans that are scared that the greatest player in this generation may have played his last game. Ever.

But we all know Mr. Bryant. He’s going to do whatever it takes to not only come back, but come back better than ever, despite his age (34). We are going to watch numerous Nike commercials and their take on “The Comeback,” much like Adidas and its work with Derrick Rose. And honestly, as someone who has seen the “Black Mamba” do the “impossible” many, many times before, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he did comeback, before the six to nine months predicted, as a legit MVP candidate.

What if this is it? What if we’ve seen his last buzzer-beater, his last throw-down dunk or his final entertaining press conference following a loss? If it is the end, then basketball has lost a legend too early, and I’m not sure the basketball world is ready for that.

Ever since Bryant entered the league, he has been amazing at what he does. Back when he sported the number eight and the small afro, he dazzled the crowds with highlight dunks (including the dunk contest), hit daggers in big games and won three championships while being part of one of the best duos of all-time with Shaquille O’Neal.

After Shaq’s departure, a couple Finals losses and a change in number, Bryant grew into a leader and one of the all-time greats. He brought L.A. two more titles to cover one of his hands with rings.

Except for Michael Jordan, does anyone even come close to stacking up to what Kobe has done? LeBron James is the one everyone debates, but other than being a freak athlete, everything he does, Kobe does better, especially winning. Absolutely no disrespect to James, but, 10 times out of 10, I want Bryant taking the final shot.

So yes, Bryant may, and most likely will, come back as a great player and make the Lakers contenders. Regardless, basketball fans have been blessed to see such an amazing player, even when he has crushed Nuggets fans’ hopes many times.