Friday, March 29, 2024

GM: Kobe Bryant Says Next Season is his Last With Lakers

Kobe Bryant attends the Hublot celebration of their new timepiece at Napa Valley Reserve on April 29, 2015 in St Helena, California
Kobe Bryant attends the Hublot celebration of their new timepiece at Napa Valley Reserve on April 29, 2015 in St Helena, California

*Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Kobe Bryant has told him that the 2015-16 season will be his last with the Lakers.

“He has indicated to me that this is it,” Kupchak said Thursday on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Bryant is scheduled to make a league-high $25 million in his final contract season — his 20th — with the Lakers, reports ESPN.com. But there’s speculation that Bryant could play beyond next season, and Bryant said he hasn’t ruled out that possibility.

“I think first and foremost, he’s on the last year of a deal,” Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio. “There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don’t think there will be.”

Bryant will be 37 years old when next season begins, and his past three seasons have ended early because of injury. He played only 35 games last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

“A year from now, if there’s something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then,” Kupchak said of Bryant potentially playing beyond next season. “I talk to him from time to time … and he is recovering. He’s running. He’s getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he’s much closer to the end than to the beginning.”

Because of the uncertainty about Bryant’s future, Kupchak said he’s unsure if there will be a farewell tour next season.

“It’s kind of up to the player, if they want to do something like that,” Kupchak said. “And it also may take away some options a year from now and put a player in an awkward position, but he will be recognized appropriately with great gratitude when it is time.”

Kupchak also said that about a decade ago, Bryant wanted to be involved in just about every decision the organization made, including which players it drafted.

But with the Lakers holding the No. 2 overall selection in the June 25 draft, Kupchak said he doesn’t expect Bryant to have much — if any — input on who the team selects this year.

“Seven or eight years ago, he just backed away and said, ‘You guys know what you’re doing,’ which was flattering,” Kupchak said in a radio appearance Thursday with ESPN’s Colin Cowherd.

“[He said,] ‘I’m just going to do what I do during the offseason. If you need me, I’ll help recruit. If you want my opinion on a player, give me a call. I’ll be at the gym today, let’s sit down and get lunch, let’s talk.’ That’s kind of where we are today.

“… He knows about the guys at Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina, but I don’t think he wants to be involved in the draft at all.”

Kupchak reiterated that Bryant is still involved in recruiting free agents.

“He’s more than willing [to call a player] every time I ask him,” Kupchak said.

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