Retiring Lakers legend Kobe Bryant dismissed playing overseas after his NBA career as a possibility
After weeding through all of the emotions that Kobe Bryant’s announcement regarding his impending retirement brings about for Los Angeles Lakers fans, there’s one predominant question that gets brought up tirelessly: what’s next for Kobe once his playing days in the NBA are done.
There has been plenty of speculation as to what Kobe might try and venture into once he’s done with the Lakers and the NBA, with options ranging from front office positions to working as an NBA ambassador to coaching to even playing overseas. However, the latter isn’t much of an open possibility any more, at least according to Kobe.
On Monday, Bryant was asked about the possibility of playing overseas once he retires and Kobe essentially dismissed it as a viable option, saying that his body simply can’t handle the grind of a basketball season anymore:
Kobe: "I would have loved to play overseas for a season. But it’s not going to happen. I wish I could. But my body won’t let me."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 21, 2015
While European basketball fans who were holding onto hope that Kobe would visit his roots in Italy and Europe for a few seasons undoubtedly weep at him saying this, it’s not wholly surprising considering what we’ve seen from Kobe this season. After all, the 20-year veteran just had to sit out a game with a shoulder injury that is largely believed to have derived from throwing down a dunk in the previous game.
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It’s a strange feeling to see a player who has been such a dominant force in the NBA not physically be able to handle the demands of the game of basketball anymore for a full season. However, it’s obvious when fans see it and they’re certainly seeing it now with Kobe. Whenever Kobe plays his last game in purple and gold, that will be his last professional basketball game in the NBA or anywhere else.
And that’s probably how it should be.