Kobe Bryant, among other things, was a fighter. When his back was against the wall, he never quit and always gave everything he had in pursuit of victory.
This characteristic was never clearer than during the 2013 season. Despite having Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol that year, injuries and inconsistencies derailed the team from meeting their expectations.
It was Kobe who kept the team afloat. After promising to get the Lakers to the postseason, he started an inspiring effort that saw the Lakers eventually squeeze into the Western Conference playoff picture.
That season, at 34-years-old, Kobe averaged 27.3 points, 6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game on 45% shooting.
Unfortunately, the season did not end on a good note for the Mamba. After working all year to get his team into the playoffs, he tore his Achilles tendon in the closing minutes of a game just days before the regular season ended. In an inspiring effort of bravery and dedication, he made two free throws while hobbled before walking off the court.
What we didn’t know, is that he apparently tried to pull the tendon “up” to finish out the last minutes of the game.
A different breed 🐍 pic.twitter.com/H6mBkNEhow
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2020
There may be no greater competitor than Kobe Bean Bryant. His drive, passion, and dedication to the game was unlike anything we’d ever seen. For what it’s worth, the Lakers did manage to make the playoffs that year — thanks to the heroics of Bryant. But without him, they were swept pretty easily by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. It was years before they’d return.
