Kobe Bryant's return may not be a glorified one that fans may expect

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With nearly a month left before the start of the NBA season, all eyes have already been centered around Kobe Bryant and his comeback. After only playing in six contests last year, the Lakers' star guard will return to action on October 28 when the Lakers face off against Houston.

Many fans and athletes alike have already projected that the the five-time NBA champion will come back to all-star form. Rockets' guard James Harden has already been quick to state that he expects a 20-year old Kobe Bryant to be back out there once the ball is tipped on opening night.

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 Despite Bryant's fierce competitive drive and tough off-season workouts, we must not rule out the fact that the 36-year old veteran may have some rust attached to his game come the first few games of the season. On top of this, Bryant has not competed in an actual NBA contest for over seven months let alone any actual contact practices with his teammates.

Even when Bryant returned last season after suffering an achilles injury two years ago, the former MVP did not put up the show that many expected, and that is completely understanding given the circumstances of his return.

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I am not saying that he won't have a solid comeback but at the same time, I think that fans have to understand that Bryant does not have the same youthful legs that he once did, and after some serious build up of injuries in his knees, ankles, and achilles, it is clear that he will not be able to be the same explosive player he once was.

Bryant knows this, and judging by the evolution of his playing style, he has adopted quite well. He knows that he cannot always cross-over every single defender or dunk on every other possession because most guards now have a speed advantage over him; instead, he has gone to his post moves and fadeaway jump shots as his primary options on the offensive end just as Michael Jordan had during the latter end of his legendary career.

Recently, Bryant has openly admitted to studying his old time rival in Paul Pierce and his crafty style. Pierce, who will turn 37 in October, has lost his speed and athleticism years ago but has managed to be an effective player by creating space with his unique ball fakes that still manage to lose defenders. Bryant, who is similarly situated as Pierce, is looking to do the same thing. By using the same crafty and smart approach that the Truth has done to lengthen his career, hopefully Bryant could sustain his health while playing at a top level that still gives the defense a bit of trouble to guard.

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  On the contrary to what many fans may feel, I think that some of Bryant's numbers will take a dip from his career average in the 2014-2015 campaign. He will probably continue to take high percentage shots off of his favorite mid-range, free-throw line extended areas on the floor and obviously be the closer in the final minutes of tight contests, but I do not think that he will have enough of an individual offensive force to put up the same numbers that he once had in his prime.

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Instead, I think that Bryant will learn to be a much better facilitator than he has ever been. Bryant will still be the number one option on the Lakers squad but he has a great basketball I.Q. and will probably use it to involve his teammates in the offensive much more. This will allow him to share some of the offensive load; players like Lin, Randle, and Young can all help with this. He can also conserve some of his stamina to stay in the game longer and when it really matters.

All in all, Bryant is entering his 19th year as a pro in what will be part of his maximum 2-year contract with the purple and gold. I have seen him play tremendously and perhaps he will prove this entire entry wrong and pull off a sort of "turn-the-clock-around" type year but only time will tell how it all plays out.  

What is certain is that this is yet another transitional period in Bryant's long and illustrious career and he acknowledges this, it is time for the fans to do the same.