Kobe Bryant Retirement: Next Season Is His Last, According To GM

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is probably retiring after the 2015-2016 NBA season, the team’s General Manager Mitch Kupchak suggested yesterday.

“He has indicated to me that this is it,” said Kupchak during an interview on Sirius XM Radio about Bryant’s upcoming 20th campaign with the Lakers, the only pro team he has ever played for.

Going directly from high school into the NBA, Kobe Bryant was won five NBA championships, with twice being named the Finals’ most valuable player. He is a 17-time NBA All-star and a two-time league scoring champion among many other career honors which include two Olympic Gold Medals and becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. He is now third on the NBA all-time scoring list.

Turning 38 this summer, Bryant has been plagued by injuries over the past few seasons, however, including a torn Achilles tendon, a fractured left knee, and a torn rotator cuff which ended the 2014-2014 for him after 35 games. He will bank $25 million for next season, the second year of a two-year contract, and presumably his last as an active player if Kupchak’s account is accurate.

“I think first and foremost, he’s on the last year of a deal,” Kupchak added. “There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don’t think there will be. A year from now, if there’s something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then. I talk to him from time to time… and he is recovering. He’s running. He’s getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he’s much closer to the end than to the beginning.”

The Bleacher Report suggests that Kupchak may mean that Kobe Bryant could test the free-agent waters after his Lakers contract expires rather than retire from pro basketball completely.

“Ultimately, it sounds like Bryant will be forced to make a decision about his future at some point next season. The Lakers appear ready to move forward with a new core, which will include the No. 2 overall pick in this summer’s draft.”

As far as Bryant embarking on a Derek Jeter-style farewell tour next season, Kupchak explained that “It’s kind of up to the player, if they want to do something like that. And it also may take away some options a year from now and put a player in an awkward position, but he will be recognized appropriately with great gratitude when it is time.”

Do you think that Kobe Bryant will retire from the NBA after next season?

[Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images Sport]