Memo to Phil Jackson: Dude, chill on the Kobe Bryant speculation.
The Lakers superstar guard made an almost-but-not-quite definitive statement about his winding-down basketball career at the team's media day earlier this week, Yahoo Sports reported.
Phil Jackson Says Kobe Bryant Will Not Retire After Season, May Leave L.A.
"A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships," Bryant told Yahoo Sports at the conclusion of the Lakers' media day on Monday. "I'm a Laker, man. I'm a Laker for better or worse."
Bryant was responding to a comment earlier in the week from Jackson, the Knicks' team president and former Lakers coach, indicating that he believed Bryant may play beyond 2015-16, only not in Los Angeles.
Shaq Warns Kobe Not To Retire Too Soon
"I'm a Laker, man. How many times do I have to say that?" Bryant said "Dude, I bleed purple and gold."
The words, "I will retire a Laker" never came out of Bryant's mouth, but he would join the likes of Magic Johnson, Jerry West and new Los Angeles assistant coach James Worthy as luminaries who spent their entire with the Lakers.
Despite missing out on prized free agent LaMarcus Aldridge in the offseason, the Lakers do have reason for optimism in 2015-16. The team returns Julius Randle, its first-round draft pick from 2014 who played in only one game before he broke his leg and missed the rest of the season.
Los Angeles drafted Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft and will pair him with up-and-coming guard Jordan Clarkson. The team also added free agents Lou Williams, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year last season with the Hawks, former Celtics forward Brandon Bass, former Pacers center Roy Hibbert and Metta World Peace.
If nothing else, the Lakers expect to be vastly improved from their 21-win season in 2014-15 that marked the worst season in franchise history.
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