There has been much talk regarding ESPN’s player rankings and standings predictions for the 2013-14 season this offseason. This week in particular, that talk peaked when it was revealed that ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant as the 25th best player in the NBA today.
While it is no secret that there is a lot of unknowns regarding Bryant’s performance this season as he continues his rehabilitation process from Achilles surgery, most thought the 25th ranking was wrong and even disrespectful.
While Kobe publicly responded to ESPN’s summer prediction that the Lakers would finish 12th in the Western Conference, he stayed mum on their ranking of him as the 25th best player this season. That is, until now.
In Kobe fashion, Bryant changed his Twitter avatar today to “1225” to reflect ESPN’s rankings of his team (12) and him individually (25). While ESPN ranking him as 25th best made headlines and became a hot debate issue this week, it is just another piece of motivation for the Mamba to prove the doubters wrong.
Meanwhile, Kobe and the Lakers have returned to Los Angeles after playing two exhibition games in China. Kobe was seen running sprints and getting up some shots before their game in Shanghai. While he still has progress to make to loosen up his Achilles, Kobe has repeatedly remarked that his recovery process has been successful.
Check out his new Twitter avatar below:
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