Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has told general manager Mitch Kupchak that next season will be his last with the Lakers, the GM told SiriusXM NBA Radio as reported by Baxter Holmes of ESPN.
“He has indicated to me that this is it,” Kupchak said in the radio appearance Thursday.
The 36-year-old Bryant is entering the final year of his contract with the Lakers, one that will see him earn a league-high $25 million, but the 19-year NBA veteran has not ruled out playing beyond the 2015-16 campaign. However, Kupchak admitted that the team is unlikely to re-sign Bryant.
“There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don’t think there will be.”
Bryant has been plagued by injuries the past couple of seasons. He underwent surgery on his rotator cuff in January and was tipped to miss nine months.
Bryant has played in 1,280 games, averaging 25.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds in 19 NBA seasons.
The Lakers finished 21-61 this season and own the second-overall pick in this year’s NBA draft.
