With the Los Angeles Lakers roster nearly complete, all the focus has been on Kobe Bryant. After two consecutive season-ending injuries, many are questioning his health and if the Lakers will make the playoffs.
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Before the start of the last season, Kobe and the Lakers agreed to a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension. While most assume these will be the final two years of his future Hall of Fame career, Bryant addressed the possibility of playing beyond his contract in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Chris Ballard:
Q: “So two years no matter what?”
Bryant: “Yeah, if something inside of me changes and I want to play some more, and go after it some more ….yeah. But where I sit right now, I don’t know if I want to do that.”
While Bryant believes these will be the final two seasons, he did not give a definite answer. Although the five-time champion has already begun establishing his post-basketball life with Kobe Inc., there’s always the chance Kobe may be near an individual record or the team is in a position to win another championship.
Heading into another season with low expectations from the media, Kobe and the Lakers look to prove their doubters wrong. In recent weeks, Kobe Bryant was not considered a top-10 shooting guard while the Lakers were projected to win only 30 games and near the bottom of the Western Conference.
[divide]Kobe Bryant Top 5 Dunks