(Getty)

Kobe Bryant excused himself from the Los Angeles Lakers for the second consecutive game. The Lakers trounced the Golden State Warriors in Kobe’s absence the first time around. This time, against the Chicago Bulls on Christmas, the Lakers fell. Hard.

A 113-93 pounding took place as the Black Mamba looked on. Bryant says age is hampering him.

“Old age. My knees are sore at this stage of the season,” he said. “My Achilles are sore – both of them. My metatarsals are tight, back is tight. I just need to kind of hit the reset button.”

There isn’t a reset button for what Bryant is describing. There’s no fountain of youth, and while a few days off here and there won’t hurt, it won’t bring 36-year-old Kobe back to 26.

Bryant is one of the game’s greatest competitors. Perhaps the most ruthless. There is little doubt that he will continue competing long after he is old and gray(er).

(Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports)

But it appears that we are coming to  a point of his career where the will to compete and the ability to compete are at an impasse. Bryant’s body is quitting before his mind is willing to let go. He isn’t chasing an NBA title. He still has five. He isn’t chasing awards or accolades.

There’s nothing to prove, and nothing to be gained.

There is however plenty to lose. The Lakers are a team in a state of rebuilding. The first step of rebuilding is demolishing what used to stand. You’d prefer to blow it all up at once, rather than remove brick by brick. It rings especially true for the Lakers, who have quickly found themselves as the Staples Center’s second favorite guest. They need to build on a new foundation. A foundation that doesn’t include Bryant.

For better or worse, the Lakers have ceded control of Bryant’s future to their greatest player of the past 20 years. Just because Bryant has the power to stay for another year or five doesn’t mean he should. It’s beginning to seem Bryant’s body is taking the decision out of his hands.