Kobe Bryant's Ruptured Achilles
Considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kobe Bryant left a permanent mark in the world of basketball. From hearing someone yell “Kobe!” while shooting a paper ball into a trash can to seeing his shoes on the feet of the people you walk past, it’s hard to ignore the Black Mamba’s influence on the basketball court. Arguably one of the most significant ways he impacted the game was his mindset. His signature “Mamba Mentality” is a testament to constant hard work and overcoming difficulties, even major setbacks such as Bryant’s rupture of his Achilles tendon.
The Injury
In a regular-season game against the Golden State Warriors, Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers to a huge 32 point lead. However, tragedy happened when he spun around, drove to the basket, and fell to the floor. This seemingly routine move which Kobe described as one he “made a million times,” ended up causing a grade 3 Achilles tendon rupture, a complete tear of most of the tendon’s fibers.
Kobe’s Determination
Despite no longer having the ability to run, Bryant mentioned after the game that he “[tried] to pull the tendon up so [he] could walk…and try to play.” Eventually, he rose from the floor and hobbled to the bench. Then, in one of the most courageous moments in sports history, Kobe limped back to the free throw line and perfectly drained his final two shots of the game. The level of determination required to continue trying to play in a game after tearing your Achilles tendon is unmatched. It serves as an inspiration to athletes around the world, demonstrating the power of perseverance. Further highlighting his unwavering determination and also his humor, he sent a post on his Facebook account: “If you see me in a fight with a bear, pray for the bear.”
Road to Recovery
At the age of 34, many questioned Bryant’s ability to return to playing basketball after such a major injury. His recovery began with surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache which focused on reattaching the fibers in Bryant’s Achilles tendon. Dr. ElAttrache’s initial advice was to “get [Kobe] weight-bearing as soon as possible, to some degree, but it’s got to be in a protected way. Early on, the tendon is malleable and stretchable, so you want to get them using the muscle and getting on their leg and weight bearing for all the other reasons, even the remote reasons like the hip and the back and all the muscles in the lower leg.” Throughout the initial stages of recovery, Kobe used crutches to assist him in walking.
In July, about three months after his injury, Kobe expressed optimism about his progress, stating that his recovery was "progressing faster than everybody expected." He anticipated returning to light conditioning by mid-August, a mere four months post-surgery. True to his word, Kobe returned to light workouts in August on a specialized treadmill.
Typical Achilles tendon ruptures take at least six to nine months before returning to light exercise such as walking, which gives context for how quickly Kobe’s recovery was continuing. His condition continued to steadily improve, and on November 18, 2013, nearly seven months after his injury, Kobe Bryant returned to Lakers team practice. He had endured the injury and saw his first game back in the NBA on December 9, 2013 against the Toronto Raptors.
Conclusions
Kobe’s rehabilitation shows that through hard work and dedication, we can all work through setbacks and achieve the goals that we have. Bryant went on to play in the NBA for another three seasons, finishing off his career with five championships. In the last game of his career, Kobe became the oldest player ever to score sixty points in a game, giving a masterpiece performance and cementing his legacy in the world of basketball.
MLA Sources
“Lakers History: Kobe Sinks Clutch Free Throws after Tearing Achilles.” The Official Site of the NBA for the Latest NBA Scores, Stats & News., www.nba.com/lakers/lakers-history-kobe-sinks-clutch-free-throws-after-tearing-achilles. Accessed 13 July 2024.
Murphy, David. “Timeline of Kobe Bryant’s Return from Devastating Achilles Injury.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 3 Oct. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/1856278-timeline-of-kobe-bryants-return-from-devastating-achilles-injury.
Mosm. “Kobe Bryant’s Achilles Tendon Rupture: Is His Career Over?” Meier Orthopedic Sports Medicine, 28 Jan. 2015, www.mosm.com/blog/kobe-bryants-achilles-tendon-rupture/.