LA Lakers Rumors: Kobe Bryant Unsure about Retirement, Will Decide After 2015-16 Season

By Cheri Cheng - 04 Aug '15 15:45PM

The Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant might not retire after the 2015-16 season after all. The 36-year-old player told Yahoo! Sports via a phone interview on Tuesday that he will make the decision at the end of this upcoming season.

"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,'" Bryant said. "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."

Bryant added that money will not be a factor for when he decides if he wants to remain in the league. Bryant will become a free agent in the summer of 2016 when the salary cap space is expected to increase significantly.

"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," he said.

Bryant will be making $25 million this season.

Over the past two seasons, Bryant has been plagued with injuries. During the 2013-14 season, he sustained a left knee injury. The following year, he was sidelined in January due to a rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder. In the interview, Bryant revealed that he is feeling good and healthy.

"The body is good. I feel good. ... My lower body is solid. There are no question marks on what I can do. My body and my legs feel extremely strong and healthy. That's the big difference," Bryant said. "My upper body, I've been doing the weights and stuff like that. I've been kind of building up the upper body strength. The biggest change is I feel very, very solid in my legs."

With Bryant back, the Lakers will hopefully have a better season than last year when they finished 21-61. In the offseason, they have added key players such as D'Angelo Russell, Roy Hibbert and Lou Williams.