Kobe longevity

[Penberthy]

Shaq will be 39 at the end of this season, and 40 at the end of next season. If Kobe does that, thats another 8 years. Obviously he keeps himself in much better shape than shaq, so I believe it is within the realm of possibility. What do you guys think?

[Slava]

I don't believe Kobe will play when his impact becomes as insignificant as Shaq's is right now.

[Penberthy]

good point.

[SoundGarden]

if we win one or two titles more(one is very likely two depends on if nba got rid of mle) he ll continue to play no matter what happens.
he ll sign two year extension imo when his 4 year is up.
he ll retire around 38.

[The Skyhook]

Depends on how the Lakers plan on using Kobe. I would love for them to reduce his play time especially during the regular season.

[laduane1]

Not sure Kobe wants to play to he is 38. I see him at 36. That would be 19 years. He was drafted at 17 and he is now 31-32 years old. Will be making 30 million on the final year his contract. So unless the Lakers are still winning and Kobe has not passed MJ. I see him calling it quits at or around 36. I bet he wants 7 rings.

[billy_21]

i believe kobe will decide to retire when he isn't productive to the game anymore. I can see him still being a impact player but taking a step back from carrying a team to the playoffs / finals.

wonder what the lakers will do when kobe does actually retire cause i'm sure its something that mitch would need to think about in the next few yrs?!?!?!?

i can't imagine bynum or gasol stepping up

[izzatizzy]

Kobe's contract doesn't run out until he's 35, and it coincides with the team's core (Pau, Drew, Ron, LO). The desire for one great player to keep on playing will still be there, like the greats Michael Jordan (@40), KAJ (@42 yrs), Magic had a come back in 95-96, post 92 Olympics (@37).

Kobe has kept himself in great shape for years. Minor injuries here and there, broken finger, tweaked knee, etc.. he has to adapt his game play to become more sufficient w/o being injury prone (more outside and post game instead of forcing the ball into the paint).

I'd see Kobe honoring us basketball fans by not making a mockery of the NBA and retire when his body can't keep up with the game.

Possibly, Kobe could retire at 40 - depending on the scenario of how the Lakers would look like in 6-7-8 years.

[Pablo Escobar]

He will retire when he can't help the lakers anymore but I see him playing at a high level during his current contract, isn't it great to have fundamentals to fall back on when your athleticism declines

[semi-sentient]

I can see him signing a 2-year extension at best, so that gives him another 6 seasons. You can already see how the mileage is catching up to him, and it's only going to get worse. He'll still be a 20+ PPG scorer even past 35 (Gasol/Bynum are going to make things easier for him), and he'll likely see an increase in assists as he becomes more of a play-maker. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does after Phil retires.

[Penberthy]

I can see him signing a 2-year extension at best, so that gives him another 6 seasons. You can already see how the mileage is catching up to him, and it's only going to get worse. He'll still be a 20+ PPG scorer even past 35 (Gasol/Bynum are going to make things easier for him), and he'll likely see an increase in assists as he becomes more of a play-maker. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does after Phil retires.

I'm looking forward to him becoming more of a pass-first player as well. Don't know if it will ever happen though. Maybe in a few years he will gain that extra 20lbs like he did a while back and move down to the post more often. That is where he would get most of his assists I think. Its crazy (but accurate) to think at 6'6'' he would require an automatic double team in the post at age 34+.

[H00PDREAMS]

I think Kobe himself said that he will continue to play for the Lakers until the basically stop giving him contracts LOL! So that being said 40.

[Biohazard]

At some point in the future the Lakers will have to draft or make a trade for a superstar/franchise player to take over the role as the teams young star..Kobe is smart and knows this. Probably not until he's over 35 though.

[ock]

40+.

Kobe obviously won't be the same player he is now, but I think he'll still be very effective for many years to come.

I think he's going to surprise the hell out of all of us.

[jc23]

Kobe has an additional 4 years of NBA mileage + multiple post season appearances throughout his career and is already stating to show signs of slowing down. He will be 32 next year but will be playing with a 35 y/o career minutes. I say 36 and he leaves and then comes back at the age of 38.

[Sedale Threatt]

I think they're going to have to drag him away from the game, kicking and screaming. Yet another lesson he can learn from Mike -- don't leave until you're 100% sure you've had enough. Plus, as we've been discussing out on the GB, there's the carrot of the all-time scoring record to keep him going. I'd be shocked if he doesn't have his heart set on that, not to mention vying for more championships.

[picc]

Kobe's not going to stop playing until he's forced to. Either b/c of injury or the FO just stops paying him.

I hope it doesn't get to that point, but with how he is about basketball, it will.

[Got Em]

well, it's very rare for a gaurd to go beyond 40, generally the only players that play beyond 40, or so are big men (eg. Shaq, Mutombo, Malone) because they are still able to use there sheer size/strength to be somewhat useful, Gaurds relly on quickness, athleticism, and run a lot more, + the milage Kobe has... I thin Kobe will retire around 37 MABEY 38, i think he only goes beyond that, if he feels he has something more to prove, or mabey an unreached goal, but i don't think he'll play longer than he needs to if it's gunna hurt his legacy, it'l start to become harder for him to accept that he's not gunna be as domanate as he used to be

[Pablo Escobar]

Probably going to get more then 6 rings and go for the all time scoring record and call it a career but somehow his achievements will be ridiculed. but I don't even want to think about Kobe leaving none of these new guys do it for me Durant is the closest but everyone likes him and I like the fact that everyone hates on Kobe it gives him that edge

[wilhelmthe1st]

I say he just plays out his contract and calls it quits at age 36. say we win this year, then Heat (or someone) win for 2 years then after Kobe announces that it will be his last year, a bunch of older vets join the lakers on the cheap to help in his last stand to get ring #7 and then retires (and STAYS retired). the prefect ending.

Kobe's 30M would then be off the cap, Pau's 20M, artest would then retire at the same time, blakes contract is up that year as well.

bynum would then 26-27 in his prime (he doesn't get injured again starting now), and is our dominate player, pau resigns for cheap to be that veteran presence/leader on the team, ebanks and caracter have developed into solid players, and lakers use only 1 year up rebuilding as they acquire a superstar guard somehow either draft or trade and we go for a championship about 3 years after kobe retires.