Kobe Bryant recently made a statement hinting that he might retire at the end of the season. He said that retirement thoughts are creeping in. The 36-year-old Los Angeles Lakers superstar has seen his last two seasons ruined by devastating injuries.
Nike just introduced a narrated podcast that chronicles the unique relationship between designer (Eric Avar) and athlete Kobe Bryant, and how they drive one another.
Take a listen here:
He’s recovered from the Achilles tendon tear and the broken leg. Now the rotator cuff, which forced him to shoot with his opposite. You know what state the Lakers are in, does he want to do a 20th season?
ESPN on ABC Analysts Jalen Rose (who had a hilarious zinger at the expense of the Clippers DeAndre Jordan) and Marc Jackson were on conference call with the media yesterday and the future of Kobe Bryant came up.
Said Marc Jackson: “To me, I don’t see him retiring. To me, it’s tough to see a guy still playing at a high level, still the best player on his basketball team, stick around for the tough times. I still see him playing out the contract, and then making a decision based on where the team is a year from now, but I certainly do not see Kobe Bryant calling it quits at the end of the season.”
You would think given what Kobe said in this video from the summer that he’s going to stay in the game as long as possible.
“I think he’s going to be the player who doesn’t end up in another uniform. I think that has become important to him. I think he has 25 million reasons to play, plus he loves the game, he’s still productive. He can pick and choose when he practices, when he travels, and rightfully so, he’s earned that. They’re worth $2.6 billion as a franchise and over 19 years he’s had a lot to say about it.”
Both Rose and Jackson have many valid points, and when you add it all up, yeah it makes perfect sense that Kobe Bryant will be back for 2015-16. Now 2016-17 Kobe Bryant? That’s a totally different story. It would help if the Lakers gave Kobe more of a supporting cast.
Rose also reaffirmed his preseason prediction on the NBA Finals- he believes that the Bulls will win the Eastern conference and advance.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital, eBay, Google News and CBS Interactive Inc.
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