Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is suggesting that the Lakers shut down injured star Kobe Bryant for the rest of the year, arguing that his latest injury would make it improbable for him to return to his old, deadly form with all the health issues he's faced this year.
As per SI.com, Barkley said about the Lakers legend during a TNT broadcast on Thursday night: "Kobe Bryant shouldn't play any more this year. They should shut him down. ... With or without him, the Lakers suck either way. It's not like they're world-beaters. When he comes back in six weeks, they'll be even more out of it. If they're smart [they should shut him down]. They're giving the guy $50 million for the next couple of years. Best-case scenario, they're an eighth seed."
The Lakers are 12-13 and sits at the 11th spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. They have been dealing with numerous injuries to key personnel like Bryant, two-time MVP Steve Nash and guards Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar.
Bryant returned from an Achilles tear injury that abruptly ended his 2012-13 season to play six games this year, only to fracture the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee while playing against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Bryant has played 18 seasons for the Lakers, logging more than 45,000 minutes over 1,245 regular season games plus another 8,000-plus minutes over 220 playoff games. The amount of games he has played, according to Barkley, would be too much for the 35-year old to overcome.
"Kobe Bryant is never going to be the same again," Barkley said. "Kobe Bryant has probably played 23 or 24 seasons, if you add up playoff games. There's no way you can blow out your Achilles - this notion that he's going to come back and be this great, great player, that's asinine, Ernie. He can be a good, solid player. You can forget, 'This guy has the will power.' Age ain't got nothing to do with will power. ... What's that little green snake's name? He's a little [garter] snake right now. I love you, Kobe. He's not going to be no damn mamba. He can't strike at you from a distance any more. He's going to have to crawl over to bite you."
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