Kobe Bryant Says Retirement Plans Include Skiing and Skydiving
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is in the midst of his farewell NBA tour, but it appears the 20-year veteran is looking forward to letting loose during retirement.
Speaking on Wednesday with former teammate Rick Fox and Jared Greenberg of SiriusXM NBA Radio (via James Herbert of CBSSports.com), the 17-time All-Star said he has some extreme plans when his playing days are over.
"I'm looking forward to skiing a little bit," Bryant said. "I've never been skiing before. Maybe do a little surfing, maybe. Maybe a little skydiving."
Per Fox, the NBA does not allow its players to participate in those activities while under contract for fear of injury, but Bryant won't have to worry about that much longer.
| Points | 33,054 | 3rd |
| Free Throws Made | 8,261 | 3rd |
| Field Goals Made | 11,520 | 5th |
| Minutes Played | 47,798 | 7th |
| Championships | 5 | 14th |
| Two-Pointers Made | 9,767 | 12th |
| Three-Pointers Made | 1,753 | 13th |
| Steals | 1,915 | 14th |
The 37-year-old was hesitant to even say this would be his last season early in the year, but as time wore on—and his body wore down—he came to terms with the fact these are his final playing days through a first-person story he posted on the Players' Tribune in November entitled "Dear Basketball."
"I can't love you obsessively for much longer," Bryant wrote. "This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind but my body knows it's time to say goodbye."
The Lakers have gotten off to a disastrous 9-34 start, and Bryant's 16.3 points per game are nearly nine below his career average of 25.1. However, after a storied career where he will finish third on the all-time NBA scoring list with five NBA championships under his belt, he will go down as one of the game's all-time greats.
He's also apparently going skydiving.
