Kobe Bryant hints at next season being his last... - Message Board Basketball Forum

D-Rose · 03-31-2013, 10:05 AM

Quote:

“I’ll talk to my family and stuff and really see if I want to continue to sacrifice as much as I’m sacrificing right now. I’m putting my body through a lot to just try to get ready to play every single night. To do what I’m doing right now, it’s not easy. I’ll tell you, it’s taken a lot of commitment.”

Is your sense that next season will be your last?

“As I sit here right now, yeah.”

Is there anything the Lakers can say that would make it more likely you played beyond next season?

“No,” Bryant told NBA.com. “It’s my decision. It’s really about what I want to do, if I want to train and be psychotic with my training. That’s what it comes down to. It’s really how I’m feeling physically.”

I could see it IF his injuries continue and the Lakers fail to make a title run next year.

9erempiree · 03-31-2013, 10:11 AM

Very sad news.

There is no doubting that he's the best ever.

raprap · 03-31-2013, 10:12 AM

The_Yearning · 03-31-2013, 10:15 AM

AKA he wants more help. Old man Nash and mentally weak D-Ho isn't going to cut it.

9erempiree · 03-31-2013, 10:23 AM

In a league with fake stars and manufactured superstars....Kobe can still prove why he's the best ever.

EllEffEll · 03-31-2013, 10:24 AM

Of course, it tastes like *S* to say it, but the only title I see the Lakers winning this season is that of "GOAT Underachieving Team in NBA History"

The dog days of an extremely (to use Kobe's favorite adverb) disappointing season is likely to produce statements like that, but in Kobe's case, he may feel that he's ready for his farewell tour 6 months from now too.

bmulls · 03-31-2013, 10:35 AM

I doubt he retires. He's still playing at a very high level. Right now he's feeling run down, the season is almost over, he's had nagging injuries all season and by all measures the Lakers have been a disappointment. Right now he needs a break.

But you know come August and September after he's been sitting at home for a few months he'll be dying to get back out there.

Solid Snake · 03-31-2013, 10:38 AM

I can guarantee everyone the life of my unborn child that he will NOT retire next year.

This is the equivalent of a poster on message boards who's popular, active, but not necessarily the most liked person, who at one point randomly decides they need to make a post announcing their intentions to "retire from the forums."

All of us are internet nerds right? How many times have we seen this on message boards? Those people NEVER stick to their word. So what Kobe's doing is the equivalent of a poster who got so butthurt either over a single event, or an accumulation of events - the wear and tear of longterm butthurtedness, that they "lash out," essentially saying, "I'm sick of you haters. I'll show you. I'll fake announce my retirement, see how much you miss me then."

With that said, I sure as hope he doesn't retire. He's the one of the few longterm legends that's still playing from the 90s

and his departure merely serves as a reminder of my own mortality.

ConanRulesNBC · 03-31-2013, 10:46 AM

If he's still competing at a high level than it would be crazy for him to retire after next season especially if the Lakers get him some real help. They're still in a position to be contending next season. They just have to make a few moves. Re-sign Dwight Howard, find someone who will take Gasol. They have some young guys on the team that can step up. Howard/Kobe/Nash is a good trio to still build around. Get rid of Gasol and MWP and get some youth in that lineup. Keep Jamison as the 6th man.

Knoe Itawl · 03-31-2013, 11:01 AM

One can only hope.........

Y2Gezee · 03-31-2013, 11:07 AM

Attention whore. He's not retiring, he's manipulating.

jongib369 · 03-31-2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9erempiree

Very sad news.

There is no doubting that he's the best ever.

"No doubting"

francesco totti · 03-31-2013, 11:26 AM

I think it will come down too what team lakers form.
I doubt he wants to play in losing teams.. then again forming winning teams around him at age 36 will be extremly hard.

tazb · 03-31-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Yearning

AKA he wants more help. Old man Nash and mentally weak D-Ho isn't going to cut it.

This.

Heavincent · 03-31-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knoe Itawl

One can only hope.........

I know it's been a very long 17 years for Kobe haters. 17 years of being wrong all the time

"He'll never live up to the hype coming out of high school"
"He'll never win without Shaq"
"He's old and done"