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Next year will be Kobe Bryant's last as a Laker, GM says

"My thoughts on next season being my last season are the same as the last time the media asked me last season," Bryant tweeted Friday afternoon, saying he has not yet made up his mind.

By Doug G. Ware
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (R) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James fight for position during the second half of their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, January 15, 2015. It was reported Friday that Bryant will retire or join another team after next season. Photo: UPI/Jon SooHoo
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (R) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James fight for position during the second half of their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, January 15, 2015. It was reported Friday that Bryant will retire or join another team after next season. Photo: UPI/Jon SooHoo | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, May 22 (UPI) -- The last time NBA superstar Kobe Bryant wasn't officially a Los Angeles Laker was a brief stint with the Charlotte Hornets nearly 20 years ago.

And the next time he won't be a Laker will come in about a year's time, ESPN reported Friday.

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Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said as much, telling a radio station that Bryant has indicated he will leave Los Angeles after next season and play somewhere else -- or possibly retire after nearly 20 seasons in the league.

"I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal," Kupchak told SiriusXM's NBA Radio. "There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be."

Los Angeles was awarded the No. 2 overall pick in next month's NBA Draft and the team is expected to use that selection to begin building the foundation for future teams. The Lakers have stated they are willing to consider trading the pick.

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At 36-years-old, Bryant is embarking on his 20th NBA season -- all with the Lakers. However, age has caught up to the star guard and forced him to sit out numerous games in the past three seasons due to injury. He played in just six games in 2013-14.

He is also due to earn $25 million for next season, which ranks higher than any other NBA player.

But if his days as a Laker are coming to an end, that doesn't necessarily mean his career is. Some speculate Bryant will join another team, and the guard himself hasn't ruled out that possibility.

"My thoughts on next season being my last season are the same as the last time the media asked me last season," Bryant tweeted Friday afternoon, emphasizing that he has not yet made up his mind.

Bryant is a highly decorated NBA veteran. He has won five championships, one MVP award, two NBA Finals MVP awards, 17 All Star Game appearances, two All Star MVP awards -- and numerous other accolades.

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If he chooses to test the free agent waters, Bryant would likely still be able to command one of the league's higher salaries. Exploring market value is something more big name players have done in recent years.

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Cleveland's LeBron James famously traveled that route in 2010, when he left his hometown Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in search of a championship. The move was accompanied by an hour-long ESPN televised special, titled "The Decision," which was almost universally panned as an ego-driven and particularly hurtful (to Cleveland fans) enterprise.

James won two NBA championships with Miami before returning to the Cavaliers last summer.

From Philadelphia, Bryant entered the NBA right out of high school -- something the league no longer allows -- and immediately made an impact with the Lakers, where he joined megastar Shaquille O'Neal.

However, technically he hasn't always been a Laker. Bryant was drafted 13th overall in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets. But it was actually the Lakers who made the pick -- having already agreed to a trade with Charlotte before Bryant was even selected.

The Lakers instructed Charlotte to pick Bryant, and then pulled the trigger to finalize the trade. All told, Bryant was a Charlotte Hornet for just a few minutes.

For his first nine seasons, Bryant wore No. 8 on his jersey before changing to No. 24, his jersey number from high school.

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