Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has hinted that he will retire once his contract is up in the next two seasons, but as of late he's also made another prediction about his future.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein in a tweet, he stated Bryant is done playing for Team USA:
"Not that there was a ton of doubt, but Kobe got asked last night if this is indeed his last Olympics at 34. Kobe's response: 'This is it'"
Heading into the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio de Janerio, it was obvious that we wouldn't see a 37-year-old Bryant make an appearance, especially after talking about retirement.
After playing his final two years of his current contract with the Lakers, Bryant intends to walk away from the NBA and may play international ball overseas in Italy, Spain or Turkey for maybe one year before officially retiring from the game of basketball.
"You'd have to look at the market and what's going on in terms of the level of basketball being played," Kobe said. "I understand there's a high level of competitive basketball in Turkey now. They might have the best league in Europe. Spain has obviously been one of the top leagues for a long time. And Italy is a place that's dear in my heart, I grew up there, but the level is not where it used to be. When I was growing up over there, that was the best league in Europe."
Bryant is the type that enjoys competition, so Laker fans better not miss a game over the next two seasons if they want to see Bryant before he calls it a career.
At least in the United States anyways.
