In a talk with CBSSports.com NBA reporter Ken Berger, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant reiterated a point he's made several times in the past: once his contract expires in 2013/14, he will retire from the NBA. For the 34-year-old Bryant, who averaged 38.5 minutes per game last season, the decision to project the end of his career is not solely based on physical health, but mental well-being.
"It's about 'Do I want to do it? Do I have that hunger to continue to prepare at a high level?' ", he said.
Later in the conversation, Bryant and Berger spoke briefly about the ongoing rift that exists inside the player's union between Derek Fisher and Billy Hunter. Bryant was clearly on the side of his former teammate.
"You can always hire new people to come in and manage the situation. But as players, if we don't stick together and rely on our unity, then we have nothing."