Kobe Bryant unsure if he will retire after next season

It is widely believed that the 2015-2016 season will be Kobe Bryant’s last in the NBA, but the only person responsible for making that decision is not yet convinced.

In a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, Bryant said that he will not make a final decision about his future until next summer.

“We haven’t set anything in stone and I’ve talked about it before. But could this be the last [season]? Absolutely,” Bryant said. “It’s tough to decide. It’s really tough to make those types of decisions. Players I have spoken to say, ‘Kobe you will know.’

“I’m making this very simple. Either I like playing the game and going through this process or I don’t. I try to strip it down to the simplest form. Either I like playing some more or I don’t. But I think that decision needs to be made after the season. It’s hard to make a decision like that before the season.”

A few months back, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak revealed that Kobe told him next season will be his last. Bryant, who told Spears there are “no question marks” surrounding his physical health, suddenly does not seem so sure.

“I’m crazy. Ha, ha, ha. I love playing. I enjoy it,” he said. “It’s weird. You go from as a kid loving the game, thinking you will be able to play forever to being where I am now and understanding there is some finality to it.”

It has been reported for several months now that Kobe will play out the final season of his contract with the Lakers and walk away. If the team doesn’t improve upon its 21-61 record, you can probably bank on that being the case. A lot will depend on his health, too.