Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has indicated that Kobe Bryant is finally retiring after next season although the team is trying to downplay the news.
"He has indicated to me this is it," Kupchak said of Bryant in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio on May 21 adding that Bryant is on the last year of a deal and he does not think there will be discussions about anything going forward as there have been none so far.
On May 22, LA Lakers spokesman John Black responded to Kupchak's remarks. He told Reuters that there is "nothing to it at all."
"Nothing that's different from any comments Mitch has made over the past several months," Black told the publication.
A two-time NBA scoring champion, two-time Olympic gold medallist, five-time NBA champion and 17-time All-Star, Bryant is supposed make $25 million next season as his $48.5 million worth two-year contract extension ends.
Meanwhile, Bryant's LA Lakers' teammate Jeremy Lin recently talked about his heritage as an Asian American. When asked by Asia Society about questions related to his heritage he has grown answering for years, Lin answered, "I'm very proud of who I am and my heritage so I have no issues answering questions about it."
Lin explained that early on, it was frustrating when he felt like people cared only about his ethnicity and no one cared about his basketball play, but as he gets older, he appreciates the fact that he has a unique voice and perspective.
"I hope to eventually be a strong voice to the world on behalf of Asian Americans," said Lin, who was born in Los Angeles County to his Taiwanese parents, who were emigrants.