Kobe Bryant is thinking about his future outside of Laker Land. It's not because the five-time NBA champion lacks competitive desire, or because his 12-30 Los Angeles Lakers are on pace for the franchise's worst record since moving west. The 36-year-old point guard is playing on borrowed time.
The rigors of 17 NBA seasons aged Bryant from the "Black Mamba" into a garden snake; a mediocre shooter who is on pace for a career-low .372 field goal percentage while obstinately maintaining a 34.9 usage rating.
While a .395 first half shooting percentage is still somewhat respectable, his accuracy takes a steep decline in third (.370) and fourth (.324) quarters. Bryant has taken nearly two-and-a-half as many field goal attempts in losses than Laker wins. That includes taking nearly three times as many three-point attempts, according to Basketball Reference.
Bryant isn't entirely unproductive - he's still the Lakers' offensive centerpiece, averaging 22.6 points and 5.7 assists per game - but a hardline stance of persevering through injury has gone from proclamation to wistful thinking.
In speaking with the Los Angeles Times, first-year Lakers coach Byron Scott said retirement is "a very hard decision" for his superstar to make. "When you love the game as much as I did at that time, as much as I know he does, it's tough to say to yourself that it's over, that you've got to go onto something else," Scott said.
So what's next for the first-ballot hall of famer now that the "R word" isn't on the backburner anymore? If it's anything like Michael Jordan, he'll make a smooth transition from baller to business man.
Kobe Inc., Bryant's Newport Beach-based investment firm, reeled in BODYARMOR as its first client last spring. Though the upstart sports drink company is Kobe Inc.'s only major investor, they have a "superteam" that includes Mike Trout, Richard Sherman, Andrew Luck, and James Harden.
Or Bryant can take the well-trudged analyst route. One outspoken TNT personality Charles Barkley may give up after his contract expires in 2016. Longtime ESPN Los Angeles senior writer Ramona Shelburne believes Bryant would be incredible, adding "He's sarcastic, smart, insightful, fearless. Think the player version of Jeff Van Gundy." One could only speculate as to how Bryant would interact with Shaquille O'Neal, or if his business-like demeanor would translate well on camera.
His chance to interview may come sooner than later. A Turner Sports executive already said he'd love to have Bryant as a guest analyst if the Lakers don't make the playoffs, and Scott, when pressed, conceded that Bryant would be shut down in March if they weren't in contention.
If that is the case, Laker fans may have about two more months to see Bryant in purple and gold.
"I'd be lying if I said that [retirement] hadn't crossed my mind," Bryant said in an interview with the Times. "Right now I doubt it...but anything's possible."