Having to play 36 minutes in a recent game has pushed Kobe Bryant that much closer to retirement.
The Lakers star took part in an interview with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski on SiriusXM and revealed that if his body doesn't magically start responding better to the grinds of his 20th NBA season, there won't be a 21st.
Kobe told Coach K on SiriusXM that "if something changes 'll come back and play next season. If something doesn't change this is it for me."— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) November 19, 2015
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The Black Mamba went past his allotted minutes in a recent game against the Pistons, playing for 36 with a stat line of 17 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in Los Angeles' 97-85 victory.
"My body's sore as hell," he said, according to insidesocal.com. "My knees are sore. My legs are sore. My legs aren't what they used to be. I've had to play more of a ground game."
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Bryant has missed three games this season -- two to rest an aching back and one for general rest.
And despite Bryant's heroics that led the Lakers to victory vs. the Pistons, they are 2-9 and are longshots to even sniff the playoffs, much less contend for a championship that would tie Kobe with Michael Jordan with six rings for their careers.
"Of course I want love to win another championship. But my responsibility now is to think outside of what I want," Bryant said. "My responsibility is to these young players."
Los Angeles is trying to return to its status among the NBA elite by developing a core group of young players, including Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell.
"For Julius, and for Jordan and for D'Angelo, and for some of our other younger guys; it is [my responsibility] to try to teach them the things that I learned at that age and try to help their development curve."
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