Kobe Bryant has one year remaining on his deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, but that does not mean the future Hall of Famer is contemplating retirement. Bryant suffered a torn Achilles back on April 12, and we all know he would never be one to let an injury dictate the end of his career. But how many more years is he planning to play?
According to ESPNLosAngeles.com, Bryant is not expected to retire after next season. He wants to not only tie Michael Jordan with six NBA championships but surpass him. A source reportedly told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that Kobe wants to be “back next season with a vengeance” and is looking for “two more cracks at it to win seven NBA titles at least.”
That would certainly help explain why Kobe said he wants the last word with Dwight Howard before he makes his decision in free agency. In order to win even one more title, the Lakers will need to do a lot of roster revamping and focus on getting younger. Bringing back Howard would be a good start.
Shelburne’s source went on to say that although it would be difficult for the Lakers to bring Kobe back at his current salary of $30 million per year, the team is prepared to treat him with the respect he deserves on account of what he has done for the franchise during his career. If Kobe is truly determined to win one or two more titles, he would be wise to sign a somewhat team-friendly deal.
Of course, all of this speculation is contingent upon his recovery. As it stands right now, LA has plenty of holes to fill. The task would become even greater if Kobe is not the same player when he returns from his Achilles injury.
