Michael Jordan returned to the NBA after his second retirement and averaged 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game for the Washington Wizards. Jordan was 38 years old. This year Kobe Bryant is 37 and, if Lakers coach Byron Scott needs/wants him to, a healthy Kobe can average those late-stage Jordan-level numbers. (Jordan averaged 9.2 field goals to get his 22.9 ppg; Kobe Bryant can make nine shots a game on one leg.)
But there are two other stats that Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant will make note of when looking at Jordan’s 2001-02 season with the Wizards. Michael Jordan played in just 60 games that year, and averaged a career low (not counting his 18 game injury-ended second season) 34.9 minutes per game. Jordan, though a year older than Bryant at 38, was also playing in only his 14th season. 2015-16 will be Kobe Bryant’s 20th year in the NBA, having come directly from high school to the Lakers.
