As the season comes closer to an end for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are in sole possession of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference, fans are once again reminded that the clock continues to tick to star guard Kobe Bryant's final game in the purple and gold.
Bryant has been terrific this season, living up to his new nickname "Vino", appearing better with age. He's averaging 27.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists on 46.4 percent shooting, all in his 17th season of professional basketball.
Though he's also been hit with various injuries, Bryant has managed to will himself and play through.
However, as his body continues to break down, Bryant has dropped hints from time-to-time about his retirement approaching. After Saturday's win over the Sacramento Kings, Bryant told Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com that he will "in all likelihood" make a decision of whether he'll play beyond next season during the summer. He also added:
"I'll talk to my family and stuff and really see if I want to continue to sacrifice as much as I'm sacrificing right now. I'm putting my body through a lot to just try to get ready to play every single night. To do what I'm doing right now, it's not easy. I'll tell you, it's taken a lot of commitment."
Is your sense that next season will be your last?
"As I sit here right now, yeah."
Is there anything the Lakers can say that would make it more likely you played beyond next season?
"No," Bryant told NBA.com. "It's my decision. It's really about what I want to do, if I want to train and be psychotic with my training. That's what it comes down to. It's really how I'm feeling physically."
It's obvious that Bryant wants to give the Lakers enough clarity of his plans so they can plan for the future in regards to contracts and personnel decisions. If he were to walk after next season, he will undoubtedly be voted into the Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility.
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