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Los Angeles Lakers fans have borne witness to the on-court supremacy of the great Kobe Bryant for 19 seasons, including 17 All-Star campaigns and five championships with the storied franchise.
They've also seen Bryant at his lowest lows, from his troubled relationships with ex-teammates to a sexual assault case in 2003-04.
Bryant's legacy - good and bad - is cemented. A sixth ring, which he admittedly desires, would put him side by side with "His Airness," Michael Jordan. Even if he doesn't reach that milestone, however, no one should think any less of Bryant for falling short.
The 2015-16 campaign signals the end of a two-year, $48.5-million extension he signed back in 2013, with the $25 million he's set to earn making him the highest-paid player in the league. The hefty sum came off as gratitude for Bryant's past accomplishments, as management surely couldn't have thought an investment of that magnitude made sense for a player running down the clock, regardless of how loyal the Lakers are to Bryant.
| Season | Games | PPG | FG% | USG% | PER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006 | 80 | 35.4 | 45.0 | 38.7 | 28.0 |
| 2006-2007 | 77 | 31.6 | 46.3 | 33.6 | 26.1 |
| 2007-2008 | 82 | 28.3 | 45.9 | 31.4 | 24.2 |
| 2008-2009 | 82 | 26.8 | 46.7 | 32.2 | 24.4 |
| 2009-2010 | 73 | 27.0 | 45.6 | 32.3 | 21.9 |
| 2010-2011 | 82 | 25.3 | 45.1 | 35.1 | 23.9 |
| 2011-2012 | 58 | 27.9 | 43.0 | 35.7 | 21.9 |
| 2012-2013 | 78 | 27.3 | 46.3 | 31.9 | 23.0 |
| 2013-2014 | 6 | 13.8 | 42.5 | 28.7 | 10.7 |
| 2014-2015 | 35 | 22.3 | 37.3 | 34.9 | 17.6 |
(Statistics courtesy: Basketball-Reference.com)
What becomes of the league's third all-time leading scorer following this season remains to be seen, as Bryant hasn't yet come to a clear-cut decision on his future. Another season or two at Staples Center doesn't make a lot of sense, though.
It's time for Bryant to call it a career.
"I don't want to play through a year where everybody knows you're retiring, and kind of give you the whole swan song," Bryant said during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" earlier in the year. "I hate that. I want to play the way that I've been playing for the past 19 years."
It would be uncharacteristic for Bryant, who's played just 41 games over the last two seasons due to injuries, to announce he'll be hanging up his kicks for good this far in advance. He doesn't come off as the type of competitor who would want every opposing arena swooning over him for 41 road outings, as that would detract from what's most important: winning the game.
Unfortunately, the Lakers likely won't be doing a lot of that this season with a roster comprised of several new and returning faces. The team finished with the worst winning percentage in franchise history last season at 21-61 (.256) - finishing second-last in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
The additions of rim protector Roy Hibbert, No. 2 overall pick D'Angelo Russell, and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams may earn them a few more victories, but not enough to change the playoff picture.
This is a rebuilding period for the franchise, with the Lakers trying to carve out an identity in what will soon be a Kobe-less world. More of an emphasis will be placed on developing the young backcourt of Russell and Jordan Clarkson, with Bryant doing his best to mentor the upstart duo and leave them in the best position possible to lead the Lakers once he's gone.
Kobe: "The important thing is these young guys develop and to be there when they have questions."
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 28, 2015
Where does this leave Bryant, though? Is he willing to stand in the background and allow his teammates to shoulder more responsibility while he's still able to play? History would suggest otherwise.
That elusive sixth ring isn't at the end of the tunnel with Los Angeles, so all the 37-year-old shooting guard stands to gain is the satisfaction of knowing he did his best to set the team up for future success.
There's always the slim chance he cuts ties with the Lakers and goes for one last run at the Larry O'Brien Trophy somewhere else, like former head coach Phil Jackson believes he should consider doing. That's highly doubtful, though.
"A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships," Bryant told Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears at media day Monday. "I'm a Laker, man. I'm a Laker for better or worse."
Purple and gold runs through the veins of the "Black Mamba," dating back to when the team traded for him during the 1996 NBA Draft. He's an icon in the city, and one of the very best to ever suit up for the Lakers.
All good things must come to an end. Once his contract is up, there won't be much reason left to stick around. What else is there to prove? Why risk further injury?
Both parties need to move on next summer. It's time for Bryant, 20 years after his NBA debut, to walk off into the sunset with his head held high.