Bryant to make retirement decision before next season
A season filled with turmoil and injury has taken its toll on Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. So much so that it has him thinking about his future and how much longer he'll play.
After passing Wilt Chamberlain on Saturday night to move into fourth place on the NBA career scoring list, the 34-year-old Bryant said he'll make a decision before training camp starts next season whether 2013-24 will be the end of the storied career.
"I'll talk to my family and stuff and really see if I want to continue to sacrifice as much as I'm sacrificing right now," Bryant told NBA.com. "I'm putting my body through a lot to just try to get ready to play every single night. To do what I'm doing right now, it's not easy. I'll tell you, it's taken a lot of commitment."
Bryant, who began his career with the Lakers in 1996, is approaching the final year of a contract that will pay him $30.4 million in 2013-14.
"It's my decision. It's really about what I want to do, if I want to train and be psychotic with my training," he told NBA.com. "That's what it comes down to. It's really how I'm feeling physically."
Bryant's injuries this season include a sprained ankle and now a bone spur in his left foot. The Lakers also are struggling to make the playoffs during an injury-filled year that begain with a coaching change.
