Kobe Bryant set off a mild panic among Los Angeles Lakers fans Friday afternoon when he selected "The Last Chapter" as the slogan that best represents his comeback from a ruptured Achilles tendon. "The Last Chapter" sounds a lot like "The Last Stand," the quote Phil Jackson gave when he decided to return for his final season with the Lakers in 2010-11 and seemed to imply Bryant was thinking of retiring after next season. Far from it, a source told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Friday. Bryant wants to be "back next season with a vengeance," the source said. And he wants "two more cracks at it to win seven NBA titles at least." In other words, it's highly unlikely next season will be his last. Bryant and Derek Fisher lead all active players with five NBA titles, although the Spurs' Tim Duncan could tie them if San Antonio beats the Miami Heat in this year's Finals. Bryant has always publicly maintained that he will play only while he's able to perform at an elite level. Next season is his final one under contract with the Lakers. A source with knowledge of the Lakers' thinking told ESPNLosAngeles.com that the team was planning to open extension talks with Bryant as soon as it was allowed to under NBA rules, which ironically came right after he ruptured his Achilles in a game against Golden State on April 12. Source: ESPN LA
Play next season out, then come to the bulls and be the second scorer Chicago needs to win it all. #nevergonnahappen
I would love for Kobe to go to Da Bulls. That's a dream. Like you said, that's probably never going to happen. Imagine Kobe, Rose, Butler, Gibson, and Noah as a starting 5...Get Boozer coming off the bench. Trade Deng and draft some young assets. Damn...Bulls could be sexy
Boozer is going to be amnestied after next season, so he won't be there. Good riddance. But yea other than that it's a brilliant set up. If Kobe can still play at that point, obviously.
Id say its more likely that Kobe totally sells his soul and plays with the Heat because he's so desperate to win a title. If Kobe thinks he is going to get 2 more cracks at a championship with the Lakers, he's dreaming. The Lakers are done.
Kobe wouldn't want to play for the Heat. Kobe is the man. He will want to be the man. There would be way too much friction between him and LeBron in the end. It would be real hard to imagine him in any other uni than Purple and Gold. To think, the Hornets traded his rights for Vlade Divac...
