Los Angeles Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Leaning Towards Retirement


With rumors swirling around Kobe Bryant’s future in basketball, the legendary Los Angeles Laker seems to be leaning towards retirement, Marc Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News writes.

Bryant, 37, is playing out the final year of the two-year, $48 million contract he signed prior to the 2014-15 campaign. As he continues to nurse the bevy of injuries that he’s accumulated in his 20-year professional career, Bryant told Medina that he feels the 2015-16 season may be the end of the road for him.

“If you asked me today, this would be my last year. But you never know. We’ll keep it open. Whatever happens, happens.”

Through five games this season, neither Bryant or the Lakers have played up to expectations. The team is currently 1-4 and only picked up their first victory this past Friday in a 104-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on the road. Bryant contributed 18 points in the winning effort, but his poor shooting on the season continued as he went 5-for-16 from the court in 31 minutes of action.

In the Lakers’ five games, Bryant is averaging just 16.2 PPG while shooting a career-low 32.1 percent from the court in 28.6 MPG. There is obviously still a lot more basketball left to be played, but all of those totals are the lowest of Bryant’s career, outside of his rookie season in 1996-97.

In a harsh self-assessment of his season, Bryant put himself down, saying he’s far from the 17-time All-Star that people have grown used to.

Partnering those on-court struggles with the plethora of injuries Bryant has dealt with, even he questions his motivation to continue. In recent years, Bryant has nursed injuries to his Achilles, rotator cuff, knee, shoulder, back, and more. Bryant’s past two seasons were cut short due to injury and when he wakes up sore every morning, Bryant admitted to Medina that he questions if he even wants to get up and train.

“When it’s hurting, I’m like, ‘Do I really want do to this? I got up this morning [and thought], ‘Do I really want to go to the gym and lift weights?’ No. But I get up and do it, anyway. I come to practice and think, ‘Maybe I should take a practice off. My back is a little tight.’ I start competing and then play the whole practice.”

Even if he and the Lakers continue to struggle, fans should not expect a change of scenery for Bryant to perhaps salvage the last year of his career. In a recent interview with ESPN, Bryant proclaimed that he is “a Laker for life,” and that he is “not playing anywhere else.” Adamant words from Bryant that should put to rest any speculation that he may want out of LA to pursue his sixth championship in a different uniform.

Despite his mindset at the moment, Bryant did reveal to Media that he believes he could play beyond this season, saying, “If I wanted to keep playing, I could figure it out. Absolutely.” And based off his aforementioned comments, any further playing days would be in the Lakers purple and gold uniform.

One thing is for certain though, once Bryant laces up his Nike’s for the final time, he will not be trading in those sneakers for dress shoes, and a clipboard. When he retires, Bryant says that he will not take on a coaching gig of any sort. With a grin on his face, according to Medina, Bryant gave the reason why he could never follow in former teammate and current New York Knicks coach, Derek Fisher’s footsteps.

“I don’t feel like dealing with divas. They’re a pain in the ass.”

[Image by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images]

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