NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Shooting Guards

1.  Kobe Bryant — Los Angeles Lakers

How much does the old bull have left?

How long can one endure the unfortunate events, extensive training sessions, and pitiful rosters put in place by a inglorious president?

Two more seasons.  That’s my count, as it should be everyone’s.

Nobody knows Kobe’s body more than himself, and he’s not one to sugarcoat any B.S. at age 36.  Bryant turns 36 years old later in August, and will be under his 19th season in the league.  Technically, if you want to discount last season because … well, he never actually played at full potential, he’ll be in his 18th season.

Kobe doesn’t beat around the bush, and that’s why you can’t take his words this summer with a grain of salt.  You have to take them seriously, and he claims he’s 100 percent healthy and ready to go.

His athletic ability is a question mark at this age, but does that remove his intelligence and discernment of the game?  If he’s just as athletic as he was in 2013 — before the Achilles tear — then he’ll be able to use his veteran skills to draw fouls, create scores off footwork, and play off the ball with Jeremy Lin trying his best.  Yeah, trying his best, which may not be good enough for Byron Scott.

The last time we saw Bryant completely in shape and gunning to keep his team alive in the West, he led all shooting guards in scoring, at 27.3 points per game.  In actuality, that 2012-13 season became a milestone for Kobe;  it marked the highest scoring average of any  player in their 17th season, taking over Kareem Abdul Jabbar for the honors.

Obviously, if he enters the year all dragged down, with no athletic ability to keep up with the NBA speed, there’s no way he tops the list.  But here’s where I have a problem with people automatically dismissing Kobe still being the top shooting guard:  Many jump to the conclusion that he’ll be slower, out of shape, and unable to perform the same moves.  But, where have you received this evidence from?

He hasn’t played since the weight loss, hasn’t played in front of a public crowd to illustrate what he has.  Thus, doesn’t he deserve the benefit of the doubt if he’s been critically acclaimed as a hard offseason worker?  You have to wait until he hits the floor, but we’re basing this off a complete recovery and healthy comeback.

He’s up against greater heights and steeper challenges this time around, having taken off the past eight months of full-contact NBA action.  He hasn’t played since mid-December, when he fractured his knee in a win over Memphis.

Will the repaired Achilles tendon and knee hold him back?  He doesn’t believe so.  I actually outlined exactly what I expect of Bryant this upcoming year earlier this month.

There’s only one Michael Jordan, but denying that Kobe is the closest we’ve ever seen to the Chicago legend would be benighted and fallacious.

Next season, expect a back-to-the-basket style, mixed with the same type of Bryant that was determined to get Los Angeles to the playoffs during Dwight Howard’s tenure in Hollywood.  What can’t you expect?  Full lock-down defense, since he’s not physically able to shut down opposing guards any longer.

But, nothing outside of another freak injury is separating him from another 25+ point per game season, or moving into No. 3 on the All-Time Career Scoring List.

**All statistical evidence credited to Basketball Reference and NBA.com/Stats**