NBA off-season update: Should Kobe play in Turkey?

Just like Deron Williams of the NJ Nets, Kobe Bryant is considering playing in Turkey during the lockout next season. Bryant, who is going to turn 33 in August and has played in 1311 NBA games, is still pondering the decision to head overseas. Bryant in the past has been open to the media about possibly playing overseas when his days in the NBA are numbered. This idea isn't new to him or his fans. However, with Bryant still chasing the elusive 6th championship and his multitude of injuries, his decision now might comeback to bite him in the future. Unlike D-Will, Bryant is battling his arthritic knee that has plagued him last few seasons. It's been clear that his athleticism has been declining sharply along with shooting range. He's no longer the perennial go to guy in LA anymore. He is no longer going to score 50+ points on any given night. His NBA career is in its twilight stages and had been really evident last season when he struggled mightily in the playoffs especially against an inferior team like the New Orleans Hornets. An arthritic knee is one that has no cure and something that's not going to get better with time. The more he plays, the more arthritic the knee is going to become. Playing in Turkey and possibly risking even more injuries just does not make any sense for Bryant. Beside, his top competitors are not going anywhere either. LeBron, Rose, D-Wade, Stoudemire, Duncan, and Paul are some of the NBA stars who are staying stateside and rest their body. At this moment, it seems best that Bryant continue to rest up his knee and try to comeback with a vigor to capture another championship in the NBA. With the season likely shortened, this will only help Bryan't chances of being fresh in time for the playoffs.