Kobe Bryant Plans to Play in Remaining Lakers Games, Barring 'Something Drastic'

Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant revealed Sunday that he intends to play in all nine of L.A.'s remaining games this season "unless something drastic happens," according to the team.

The Lakers have four home games left, though technically they'll play in the Staples Center five more times, as they face the Los Angeles Clippers twice. Bryant, 37, announced in November he would retire after this season.

Date	Time (ET)	Opponent
Monday, March 28	9 p.m.	at Utah Jazz
Wednesday, March 30	10:30 p.m.	vs. Miami Heat
Sunday, April 3	9:30 p.m.	vs. Boston Celtics
Tuesday, April 5	10:30 p.m.	at Los Angeles Clippers
Wednesday, April 6	10:30 p.m.	vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Friday, April 8	8 p.m.	at New Orleans Pelicans
Sunday, April 10	3:30 p.m.	at Houston Rockets
Monday, April 11	8 p.m.	at Oklahoma City Thunder
Wednesday, April 13	10:30 p.m.	vs. Utah Jazz

The veteran shooting guard leads the Lakers in scoring this season with 17.1 points per game, but he's shooting just 36.0 percent from the floor, the worst field-goal percentage of his career. He's also averaging four rebounds and three assists per game.

The Lakers have struggled in Bryant's retirement tour, going just 15-58 on the season, the second-worst record in the NBA behind only the Philadelphia 76ers. 

While Kobe is a surefire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest to ever play the game, there have been concerns that his presence has stymied the progression of the team's young guards, namely D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson. On the other hand, they have had a season to learn from Bryant's famous work ethic and pick his brain for insight into the sustained success he had during his career.

And after winning five titles, being voted to 18 All-Star Games, winning the 2007-08 league MVP and twice winning the NBA Finals MVP award, Bryant certainly earned his farewell tour this season.

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