Kobe Bryant's two-year extension with the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the most discussed contracts in the NBA since the ink dried. Bryant is performing admirably so far in the first year of the deal, leading the NBA in scoring at over 25 points per game. The team's performance has been a different story, as the Lakers are just 5-13.
Bryant is 36 years old, but his strong start to the season has some wondering if he'll be around longer than next season, when his current contract expires at the end of the 2015-16 campaign. Lakers coach Byron Scott was asked about Bryant's future in Los Angeles before L.A.'s game against the Wizards on Wednesday night, and he insisted he would like to convince Kobe to stick around even longer.
"Kobe said he's only going to play until the end of his contract," Scott told reporters in Washington. "I think if we put something together that excites him, maybe he'll take a chance and say he's playing another year."
Bryant is scheduled to earn $23.5 million this season and $25 million next season. He will be turning 38 years old when his contract expires in the summer of 2016.
Quotes via Nick Bilka from Bullets Forever