Bryant signed a two-year, $48 million deal with the Lakers, and many wondered if it was a selfish move by the Black Mamba accepting such a deal, since it took out a bunch of cap space for the Lakers to improve the team.
It's unknown if Bryant is going to retire after the 2015-16 season, because he could land another big contract in the summer of 2016.
Bryant, however, says he isn't playing for the money.
“Zero. Zero. I’ve never played for the money. It’s never moved me. Money can come and go. I have a perspective about finances. The family is fine. What is more money going to bring other than more money? I have my family, I have my health and we’re comfortable financially and that is a massive blessing.
“I don’t want to undervalue the importance of generating any type of whatever. I don’t want to make it sound like I’m underappreciative of that or not thankful for that. But at the same, what is really important? What is the important thing? I never played for money. When I laced my sneakers up when I was a kid in Italy I wasn’t thinking about money. I had no idea how much Magic [Johnson] or [Larry] Bird got paid. I played it because I loved it.”
Bryant also talked about next season being his last, as Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has hinted at it.
“We haven’t set anything in stone and I’ve talked about it before. But could this be the last [season]? Absolutely. 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.”
Since many expect Bryant to retire in 2016, he was asked if this season will be a farewell tour.
“It’s hard to do that type of stuff because I don’t know if I’m going to retire or not. It’s not a swan song when it all has not been written.”
To me, I really can't see Kobe retiring after next season. I wouldn't be surprised at what he does either way, though.
By Josh Dhani
