Kobe Bryant is one of the fiercest and most relentless competitors basketball has ever seen, so it’s only natural that there will be a sizable void within him once he’s finally forced to hang up his Nikes. With the state of his legendary career more fragile than ever after successive major lower body injuries forced him to miss all but six games last season, Bryant is being forced to consider his post-playing life far sooner than he’d like. At a promotional event for Showtime’s upcoming documentary “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” the near 36 year-old said that accepting his future is “scary as hell.”
“Kobe Bryant’s Muse” will air in November, and offers a glimpse into the superstar’s life heretofore unseen by the public. ESPN offers more insight on the film and Kobe’s state of being as his career’s twilight finally dawns.
“It’s a fascinating time to be around this guy,” said Gotham Chopra, who directed the film. “There’s this sort of looking forward to life after basketball. This is a guy that’s asking a lot of questions.”
The unexpected time off last season forced Bryant to think about his post-basketball future.
“I’m afraid, too,” he said Friday at the summer TV critics’ meeting. “You really have to lean on muses and mentors going forward, just as I did as a kid. It’s about having that next wave of things, which is scary as hell, but it’s fun at the same time.”
Hearing Bryant come to terms with his basketball mortality is both heartbreaking and inspirational. If anyone couldn’t survive without the game, you think it’d be Bryant; his measured optimism is a hopeful reminder that there’s always more to life than one’s first passion.
But further realization that Kobe’s playing days are numbered is difficult for NBA fans and followers, too. We can’t relate to Bryant’s personal fears, but certainly are afraid of what the league’s post-Kobe world will look like. Let’s hope we don’t have to see it for a couple more years at least.
What do you think?
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