Kobe Bryant apparently had been thinking about retiring after the 2015-2016 season, but the struggles of the Los Angeles Lakers have been keeping the fire burning.
Hollywood Life claimed to have talked to a source who alleged that Kobe Bryant had planned to retire after this season.
"He has been mulling the retirement question for a while," the insider claimed. "But [his] intentions are to continue to play with the NBA."
"He doesn't want to have his career end on such a sour note," the article added, which is why the Los Angeles Lakers' struggles have been a source of exasperation for the aging superstar.
But Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak claimed on SiriusXM radio, per TMZ, that based on his conversation with Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba will retire after the 2015-2106 season when his $48.5 million contract would have ended.
He said that Kobe Bryant "has indicated to me that this is it."
"There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be. He hasn't indicated that he wants to continue to play," he added.
To say that the Los Angeles Lakers are struggling would be an understatement as it ranks 23rd in the NBA in terms of scoring and 24th in defense. Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, averages 15.6 points on a pedestrian 31.1% shooting, along with 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 dishes.
And it seemed fitting that the Golden State Warriors would make history as the most number of wins at the start of the season with any defeat at the expense of the Los Angeles Lakers. With the victory, the Stephen Curry-led squad beat the 15-0 start by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 1993-94 Houston Rockets.
The article from Hollywood Life also claimed that Kobe Bryant is not averse to leaving the team to try to chase another championship.
"If the Lakers don't try to resign him," the insider added. "He will sign with another team that is a contender."
