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Everybody loves nostalgia. Everybody also loves a feel-good story. This is exactly why the basketball world is egging on Kobe Bryant to come out of retirement, lace up his sneakers, and don The Purple and Gold for one last hurrah.
Bryant, who just turned 40, retired from the game in 2016. And boy did he leave in the only way he knows how, as he finished his career scoring 60 points in a comeback win against the Utah Jazz in the final game of the regular season – one last magical moment for The Black Mamba.
The thing is, people never seem to get enough of these magical moments. Kobe, in his own self, was a spectacle. He was one of those transcendental players that come once in a blue moon.
He never ceased to amaze and captivate millions of basketball fans around the world with his unbelievable shots, game-winners, and clutch plays. Moreover, his Mamba Mentality continues to serve as an inspiration, not only to aspiring ball players or athletes, but to almost anyone on about any aspect possible in life. This is the reason why many are clamoring for his return to the hard court.
His former L.A. Lakers partner-in-crime Shaquille O’Neal recently said on his show, The Big Podcast with Shaq, that his return would be the biggest thing ever.
“He will never go to the Big 3 before he does the NBA. Everybody knows who Kobe is. You’re telling me Kobe can’t give somebody a nice 15-20 minutes a game. If you align all the dots and align all the moons and oceans… if he came back at 40 then the announcement would be the biggest sports announcement in history. The jersey thing would triple in one day. Everybody would be talking about it. He wouldn’t even need to play great, just come play 15-20 minutes a game as a Laker…
“If they happen to do well, it would probably be one of the greatest stories in NBA history. And Kobe likes stuff like that, that’s all I’m saying.”
As alluded by Shaq, whom he won three straight NBA championships with, his return would be the most massive farewell tour of all time. He sort of had a similar one in 2016, but the main difference this time is that this one may actually be for something.
The 2016 farewell tour was nothing more than just Kobe having a series of final feel-good moments, where he received special tributes from pretty much every team around the league. The Lakers were a bottom of the league team, and he was playing for nothing but a final game versus opposing squads which he tormented for the most of his 20 years in the NBA.
The last time the Lakers made the playoffs was in 2013 – the year Kobe blew out his Achilles. He was never the same since. In fact, neither were the Lakers.
But everything changed when LeBron James made his announcement that he would be signing with the Purple and Gold on a four-year $154 million deal. The NBA’s marquee player was now on the NBA’s marquee team. King James’ arrival made the Lakers relevant again.
With LeBron in the fold, championship expectations entered Laker-land. It is then that rumors began to float whether the Mamba would be willing to come back for one last go-round with James.
Fans would probably not care if he just played around 15 minutes a night, or if he never becomes the Kobe of old. Just seeing one of basketball’s most legendary players grace the NBA courts for one more season would be a spectacle in itself. It would definitely be nostalgic.
In addition, people get really thrilled by the fact that they may get to see two of the greatest players of our generation in Kobe and LeBron team up and try to win a title for the Lakers. Though this is highly improbable, the very small possibility of it happening still stirs fans' wild imaginations.
Realistically though, the return tour will probably never happen at all. Kobe has shut down the rumors that he will make a comeback. In fact, he looks to be at peace with his retirement and enjoying his time with his family. Other than that, his off-court work seems to be working for him too, as his documentary Dear Basketball won him an Oscar to add to his trophy case at home. He's happy with his life after basketball, and as true fans, we should also be happy for him.
But hey, as true fans as well, we can dream right?
