Kobe Bryant News: Lakers GM Says Mamba to Retire in 2016

The Lakers and their fans finally got a win. The ping-pong balls were friendly to the Lakers and they landed the number two overall pick. The future seems a little brighter for the Lakers and now they can enter free agency with some momentum.

-== How The Top 5 NBA Prospects Fit With The Lakers ==-

Mitch Kupchak now has the task of not only picking the correct player at the number two spot, but also surrounding this young nucleus with some established veterans and key role players. If Kupchak plays his cards right, the Lakers could be a threat to make the playoffs next season.

Next season is the final year in Kobe Bryant’s contract, but he has not made it clear what he intends to do after next season. According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Kupchak believes this will be Bryant’s final year:

"“He has indicated to me that this is it,” Kupchak said Thursday in a radio appearance with SiriusXM NBA Radio. […]“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.”"

Kupchak sounds very sure that this will be Bryant’s final season, which is definitely surprising. We expected this to be Kobe’s last season, but knowing the Mamba, it will be difficult for him to leave the game that he loves.

At this point it might not be up to Bryant, but it’s all about his health and his body. After so many minutes and grueling workouts, maybe his body cannot handle the grind of an 82 game season. Father Time is undefeated and not even Bryant can win this matchup.

Every player wants to go out on their own terms, but at the same time it’s hard to leave the game of basketball when that is all you have ever done in your life. Bryant has already accomplished everything imaginable in this sport and now he can retire and live comfortably for the rest of his life. We will miss him, it’s been a fun ride these past two decades.