8 reasons why Kobe Bryant is the toughest player in NBA history

#5 Bouncing back from season-ending injuries at the end of his career

Utah Jazz v Los Angeles Lakers

Affected by an Achilles injury in April 2013, the Mamba made a comeback to write the last chapter of his career with the Lakers 19 games into the 2013-14 season. Bryant resumed practising in November 2013 and took the court for 6 games before suffering from a tibia fracture that ruled him out for the rest of the season.

After coming back at the start of the 2014-15 season, he was still suffering from soreness in his knees, feet, back, and Achilles tendons. Kobe managed to average 26.4 points per game in the first 27 games of his season, while also becoming the only player aged 36 or above to record multiple triple-doubles with a 23 point, 11 assist, 11 rebound performance against the Nuggets in a win.

On January 21, 2015, Bryant suffered a rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder while driving baseline for a two-handed dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans. Though he is right-handed, he returned to play in the game and ran the offense while shooting, dribbling, and passing almost exclusively with his left hand, before undergoing season-ending surgery for the second straight season.