There are nine games left in Kobe Bryant's NBA career, and he intends to play in every one of them.
"Yes, unless something drastic happens, God forbid," Bryant said Sunday after a loss to the Washington Wizards, when asked if he'd be playing out the string.
"It's pretty crazy to think. I've got four home games left? That's kind of crazy," he said, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes. "I didn't realize that until right before tipoff, five home games left, and now it's four. That's pretty crazy."
The final nine commences Monday on the second night of a back-to-back, when the Lakers visit the Utah Jazz. On Wednesday, they host the Miami Heat in Bryant's final contest against Dwyane Wade.
Related: Wade looking forward to final meeting with Kobe
After the Boston Celtics next week, there's a back-to-back home-and-home against the Lakers' Staples Center co-tenant Clippers, followed by a three-game southwest road swing to New Orleans, Houston, and Oklahoma City. The final game of Bryant's 20-year career will come two weeks from Wednesday at home against the Jazz.
Tickets for the event are starting at close to $900 on the secondary market.
Kobe has missed more home games than road contests this season, as he's tried to play one final time in each NBA city. This year is already a moral victory of sorts for Bryant, as he's played in 57 games - significantly more than the previous two seasons combined.
