Nobody wants to see Kobe Bryant go out like this, not even the team he punished on one of the game's biggest stages on many occasions throughout his illustrious career.
The San Antonio Spurs aren't prepared for a league without Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar who's facing season-ending surgery for a torn rotator cuff. After suffering his third significant injury in less than two years, questions about how much time the 36-year-old has left in his career have intensified.
Bryant's latest injury came shortly after the five-time champion admitted that he contemplated walking away after the season with one year and $25 million remaining on his contract. He was limited to six games last season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon and fractured kneecap, and his 2014-15 season is likely to end after 35 games.
"It sucks" Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said about Bryant's injury, according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN. "The league needs him. He's one of the best players that ever played."
The Lakers and Spurs have enjoyed a heated rivalry during Bryant's time in the league, with the 17-time All-Star playing a large role in ending many San Antonio seasons. But even Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich can't help but be fond of those days.
"When somebody like that of that stature goes down, it's not good for everybody, obviously for his team but for the league and you miss guys like Derrick Rose for instance, the last couple of years, or Kobe or anybody else like that," Popovich said.
"It’s a loss for the league, for fans, for all of us. I can think of a lot of shots Kobe's made that's basically knocked us out, and in an odd, weird sort of way I still enjoy it. When you see a talent like that, when they don't play anymore then you say 'Wow, I got to see so and so play.' He's one of those kind of guys."
Spurs point guard Tony Parker wants to go to war against Bryant at least one more time, like the old days.
"When I first came here, Spurs-Lakers, that's all we talked about," Parker said. "It was a huge rivalry, with him and Shaq. Those were great years.
"They always say good stuff has to have an end, but hopefully we can see him one more time next year and he'll be healthy and finish on a high."
A final decision on whether Bryant, who's averaging 22.3 points per game, will undergo season-ending surgery is expected to come Monday.
