Kobe Bryant: ‘I bleed purple and gold’

Kobe Bryant is adamant that he will stay with the Los Angeles Lakers if he extends his playing career in the NBA beyond the upcoming 2015-2016 season. Bryant has not decided on his plans after the season, but the 37-year-old veteran is expected to consider retirement at this point of his career.

"I'm a Laker, man. How many times do I have to say that? Dude, I bleed purple and gold." Bryant said, as quoted by Yahoo Sports. "A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships. I'm a Laker, man. I'm a Laker for better or worse.”

Bryant, who is in the final season of a two-year US$48.5 million (AU$ 69.11 million) contract he signed in 2014, missed 47 games last season because of a torn rotator cuff. He also played in just six games in the previous season due to an Achilles injury. Without their veteran guard, the Lakers struggled for a combined 48-106 record the last two seasons and missed the playoffs.

Phil Jackson, Bryant’s former coach with the Lakers who is now the team president of the New York Knicks, stated in a recent interview that he doesn’t expect the basketball star to retire after the 2015-2016 season and suggested that his former player might be playing “his last year as a Laker.”

Bryant’s recent declaration of wanting to stay with the Lakers for his entire career is expected to stop speculations that he will join another NBA team in the future.

Bryant, who was drafted in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets and landed with the Lakers on a draft day deal, will be entering his 20th NBA season. For his 19-year NBA career, Bryant has averaged 25.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 1,280 regular season games and 25.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 220 post-season games.

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