Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant appears to admit that time is not on his side and he hints that he may retire after two more seasons.
Bryant, 33, in an interview with Yahoo! Sports' Graham Besinger, was reminded that he mentioned during his rookie season that he would retire at the age 35. The Lakers' star said, "It's still probably accurate.
"That's a long time to be playing," Bryant said. "It'll be the last year on my contract. I don't know if I will play any longer than that. I don't know. It's just a possibility. It's not something I even give it much thought to, but it's a possibility. It could happen."
Kobe's 29,484 points place him fifth on all-time points scored in the NBA. He's 2,000 points away from Wilt Chamberlian for fourth, fewer than 3,000 from Michael Jordan for third and about 9,000 behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for No. 1.
Kobe has scored at least 2,000 points in seven of the past 11 years, giving him the opportunity to pass Jordan if he remains healthy and performs at an extremely high level.
Kobe also has five rings and his appetite to get his sixth is limitless.
With the acquisition of Steve Nash, who is also hungry for a title, Kobe's chances just got that much greater. If Nash, who signed a three-year contract, and the Lakers are title contenders in two seasons, it may be difficult for Bryant to walk away being that he's probably the game's fiercest competitor.
Bryant hopes Nash's presence will relieve him of ball-handling duties and give him easier looks on the post and at the elbows, two variables that could significantly help Bryant conserve energy.
Regardless of how he and Nash play together, Bryant will undoubtedly will himself to continue to play at an elite level for however long his body allows it.
"I would love for people to look at my career and say I maximized everything I possibly could," Bryant said. "Every ounce of talent I had, I got the most out of it. If people say that about me, I'll be very happy."
