Kobe Bryant is signed on to play one more year of professional basketball. Realistically, he needs three more to catch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring record.
And Bryant isn't one to back down from a challenge.
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Probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com reported Monday that if the 36-year-old Bryant continued on his current scoring pace of 25.4 points per game this season, he would need to average 43.7 points per game for a full year next year to pass Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 points.
Currently, Bryant has 32,310 as of Monday night and still has more than 70 percent of the 2014-15 season remaining.
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But if Bryant were to back off talks of retirement after next season, then the journey seems more possible to get into Kareem territory.
According to Probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com, Bryant would need to average 27.4 points per game for the next two years to approach Abdul-Jabbar's record - which would seem to be another improbability. With Bryant among the league leaders in scoring this season, the Lakers are languishing with an 8-16 record.
Bryant already is on record on saying he won't continue if the Lakers continue to struggle.
"Oh, yeah, let's just play next year and let's just suck again. No. Absolutely not," he told the Los Angeles Times before free agency began last summer.
But after being satisfied with management's efforts to land a big-name talent (eventually failing), and Bryant's seemingly good health upon his return, he may be more patient to see if the team can land some free agents next summer.
Bryant wants another ring to match idol Michael Jordan, and he would need the Lakers to make a serious upgrade in talent. If that were to happen to entice Bryant into staying beyond next season, it's doubtful he'd have to carry the team offensively the way he does now.
Abdul-Jabbar doesn't see that happening.
"It's going to be tough," Abdul-Jabbar told the Los Angeles Daily News last spring. "The problem for him is if he's going to break the record, he would have be the focus of the offense. But what does he have to worry about? He can walk away and be satisfied. He has the jewelry and the stats."
But if Los Angeles were to gather talent for a run at a title over the next three or four years, that would give Bryant an option to consider when his contract expires at the end of next season.
If he were to stay in the league for three more years, probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com reported, then he'd have to average just 20.0 points per game.
Do you think Kobe Bryant has any chance of breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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