Kobe Bryant is certainly looking good right now and by all accounts it seems that the Black Mamba is revved up and ready once the NBA regular season kicks off.
Though Kobe did suffer a minor setback when he got kneed in the left calf by Sacramento Kings Kostas Koufos, the Lakers star has been showing off glimpses of the Kobe of old. Not only that, his maturity has also been showing which is something that head coach Byron Scott and the rest expect from him.
It remains to be seen how Bryant will keep himself healthy throughout the season. The Lakers are not among the favourites in the Western Conference though Kobe and his young supporting cast could make it a challenge to prove critics wrong.
In all, the main concern for Kobe is to remain healthy and finish the regular season on a good note.
After this season, many eagerly await what plans Bryant have in mind. He is in the last year of his contract with the Lakers and such has left many to speculate on one of two things - playing on or retirement.
Right now, the official word on that will obviously be kept under wraps. But just like the case of other stars hitting NBA Free Agency next summer (like Kevin Durant), all word about Kobe’s future plans will likely be among the topics in discussion.
Kobe had reiterated that he plans to retire as a Laker but some believe that this is subject to change. If he decides to continue playing, there is a high possibility that Kobe could be dangled a much lower contract by the Lakers.
Though Kobe made it clear before that he financial considerations are not important at this stage of his career, there is a chance that it will still be a factor on what he decides in 2016.
In the NBA scene, there is a factual rumor that could see him donning the Los Angeles Clippers uniform since Doc Rivers does have the talent of handling high profile players. Chances are the Clippers could dangle him something better than what the Lakers could have to offer and Kobe just might bite.
For former teammate and current TV host Rick Fox, he doesn’t believe that Kobe will be retiring at the end of the season.
Kobe could possibly rejoin Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson in New York with the Knicks. If not the NBA, he sees Kobe playing overseas (China).
Why China? Well for one, Kobe is popular and well-loved over there, a result of his occasional trip during the offseason.
All of these are possible but the real answer falls in the hands of no other than Kobe himself. If he makes it through the NBA regular season, chances are he will have a circus-like off season as well alongside other big names available in NBA Free Agency 2016.