Will the 2015-16 NBA season be Kobe Bryant's last? Seems that way.
Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio on Thursday that Bryant revealed to him that he has reached the end of the road with the Lakers...and maybe that means the NBA altogether.
"He has indicated to me that this is it," Kupchak said, as reported by ESPN.
Bryant will be entering his final contract year and 20th overall season, one that he will earn a league-high $25 million for.
"I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal," Kupchak continued. "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."
Bryant, 37, will be coming off his third consecutive season-ending injury, the latest being a torn rotator cuff that required surgery.
If this is indeed it for Bryant, what a run he has had. The surefire Hall of Famer won five NBA championships, one league MVP, two Finals MVPs and was named an All-Star 17 times. Legendary. With the No. 2 draft pick, expect Bryant's Lakers to finish way better than their 21-win campaign this past season. They better if this is Bryant's last run.
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