Kobe Bryant Discusses Life After Retirement from the NBA

The start of the 2016-17 NBA season did not feature former Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant for the first time since 1995. Yet, Bryant doesn't seem to miss it at all. 

On Tuesday, the 18-time All-Star told ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne that he doesn't miss the game "not even a little bit."

Instead, he's just enjoying kicking back and watching his former peers on television:

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It's strange to think a couple years ago, to be in this emotional space would be unfathomable. But I mean not even a smidge, which I'm very thankful for, because it's made my transition seamless and I can really just watch and just enjoy the games.

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However, he isn't dissecting every little aspect of each and every game: "I've been following it. I wouldn't say closely, but if I'm home and I have a chance to put the game on, and I'm home, I'll put the game on. I kind of know generally who is winning and who is losing."

He has noticed the hot starts from Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook and New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, though: "Players have been playing phenomenally well, which is rare. Normally at the start of the season you kind of have to work yourself into a rhythm. This year they just came out of the gates smoking. That's rare."

A step away from basketball has allowed him to focus on his new title of businessman, which included him releasing a new Nike shoe on Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, per Shelburne: 

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What it means to me is the balance of both things. You gotta be able to have the balance between the light and the dark. You've got to be able to have death in order to have life. It's finding the balance of both things and finding the beauty in both of those things.

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With no urge to attempt a comeback at 38 years old, the balance seems to be just right for Bryant as basketball continues without him for the first time in over 20 years.