It was always going to happen eventually, but Kobe Bryant says retirement is closer than what we thought. The Lakers legend has two more seasons left on his deal (which would take him through to 18-seasons played in the NBA), and he says he feels that may be the end for him in the league.
He didn’t rule out staying on longer once his deal expires, but Bryant, who entered the league as a precocious teen prodigy, mentioned that it would be hard to maintain health at the levels he’s accustomed to much longer than that.
“It’s just that three more years seems like a really long time to continue to stay at a high, high level of training and preparation and health,” Bryant said. “That’s a lot of years. For a guard? That’s a lot of years.
“It’s not about health necessarily, it’s about ‘Do I want to do it? Do I have that hunger to continue to prepare at a high level?’ ”
