Kobe Bryant is one of the biggest faces of the NBA. At 34, he is beginning to think of when his career will come to a close. The All-Star is entering his 17th season in the NBA and coming towards the end of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant went on Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday and said he will retire soon.
Bryant is currently signed through the 2013-14 season with the Lakers. He plans on finishing his career with the organization. He intends on trying for one more championship game, but will not leave for another team in order to do so.
"I'm not going anywhere. I couldn't possibly. I've been very fortunate to be with one organization, and I just feel like you should try to do the best that you can to win with the organization you're with. And if it happens, great. And if it doesn't, it doesn't," Bryant said.
Bryant is to be owed $30.45 million in the final year of his contract. He is one of four players that hold a no-trade clause in his contract, so he controls his future with the team. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki are the only other players with the clause.
Bryant has been playing extremely well this year, despite the Lakers record. He is averaging 27.6 points per game, which is higher than his career average of 25.5. He is shooting 47 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range. Even with the good season, Bryant says he will be retiring soon.
"I've been very blessed to have been with a fantastic organization. I truly have. It's coming to an end, and I'm happy that it will be in a Lakers uniform. It will be soon. I've played 20 years. I mean when I came into the league I had an afro, and I can't grow one now if I tried," Bryant said.
When Bryant decides to head off into retirement, he will go down as one of the best players in the league. In his time with the Lakers, he was a 15-time NBA All-Star and a five-time NBA champion. He was named league MVP in 2007. He ranks third among active NBA players with 44,747 minutes played and he is No. 5 on the all-time scoring list. Bryant is considered a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
