Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Kobe Bryant indicated next season would be his last. Although all signs thus far point to Bryant retiring after his contract expires next July, Kupchak hinted he would be open to discussing a new contract with Bryant if the aging superstar were to change his mind about retirement.
Bryant himself has said he plans to retire after his contract expires next summer, and on Thursday Kupchak seemed to confirm it in an interview on SiriusXM.
"He has indicated to me that this is it," Kupchak said during the radio appearance, according to ESPN. "... I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal. There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be."
Age seemingly has caught up to the 36-year-old Bryant, who's had three straight seasons - a torn Achilles tendon in the 2013 playoffs, a fractured knee six games into the 2013-14 season, and a torn rotator cuff 35 games into the current season - ended early by injuries.
Kupchak is under the impression next season will be Bryant's last, but he didn't rule out sitting down with Bryant and working out a new contract if the future Hall of Famer decided to stick around longer.
"A year from now, if there's something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then," Kupchak said. "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."
And, asked whether the possibility of Bryant playing beyond his current contract might deter free agents from signing, Kupchak had a pointed answer:
"If there is a player out there like that, that won't come here for that reason, then we don't want them. Every great player is demanding and focused, and if you don't want to play for a guy like him that's driven to do nothing but win championships and work hard, then you shouldn't be here. You should go someplace else."
