All good things must come to an end. As much as fans would want to see more of Kobe Bryant for another decade or so, the time to call it quits inches closer by the day.
The future Hall-of-Famer had been through a lot of ups and downs for the past few years as he battled through injuries, kept the Lakers competitive as well as exceeded the expectation of many despite being on his mid-30s.
The Lakers are not currently in the state where someone like Kobe would want to stay a couple more years. The team is clearly still in their rebuilding stage and it might take three years or so to get it together.
With that said, Bryant reportedly told Lakers head coach Byron Scott that this season might be his last per ESPN's Baxter Holmes.
"If you asked me today, this would be my last year. But you never know. We'll keep it open. Whatever happens, happens."
But that doesn't mean Kobe will simply fade away this season as head coach Byron Scott said Kobe will still give his 100 percent night in and night out.
"He wants to try to play every single game," Scott said, via Jared Zwerling. "He said this could possibly be his last year."
Lastly, NBC Sports' Kurt Helin analyzed Kobe's current state and he agrees that it might be the best time for Kobe to call it quits.
"But whether he is going to retire, I believe him when he says he ultimately doesn't know yet," Helin wrote. "I've always been in the camp that this will be it for Kobe - if he's not going to chase a ring with another team, why would he put himself through all this physically to be part of a multi-year rebuilding process he will not be on the court to see the rewards from?"
"Bottom line, he's getting too old for this... stuff."
