Kobe Bryant Retirement Rumors: Lakers Legend Calling It A Career?

There is an old saying in sports that Father Time is undefeated, which is basically a clever way of saying that nobody can play forever. The best anyone can hope for is that they stay healthy and productive throughout their playing years and that they do not wait too long to ride off into the sunset.

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Until recently, it appeared that Kobe Bryant was set to have such a storybook career, but injuries have ravaged him over the past couple of seasons, and the Lakers have struggled in his absence (though, to be fair, they were also bad when he was healthy). Now, according to ESPN, Bryant may have finally decided when he wants to walk away from the game.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak says that Kobe has told him that the 2015-16 season will be the last in a storied career for probably the second-best shooting guard ever to play the game.

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"He has indicated to me that this is it," Kupchak said Thursday in a radio appearance with SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Next season is the last on Kobe's contract, and it presents an opportune moment for him to retire, which would also benefit the franchise by removing his league-high cap hit from the books.

"I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal," Kupchak said. "There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be."

Kupchak didn't completely rule out a Bryant return beyond next year, however.

"A year from now, if there's something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then," Kupchak said. "I talk to him from time to time ... and he is recovering. He's running. He's getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he's much closer to the end than to the beginning."

He also was non-committal about whether or not Bryant would get a farewell tour.

"It's kind of up to the player, if they want to do something like that," Kupchak said. "And it also may take away some options a year from now and put a player in an awkward position, but he will be recognized appropriately with great gratitude when it is time."