Q&A: Kobe Bryant talks retirement, playoffs and life after basketball

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers during their NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, November 4, 2014. [Photo/IC]

Kobe Bryant says this absolutely could be his last NBA season, but the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar says he has not made a final decision.

Bryant, 36, said that he won't decide whether he will retire until after the upcoming NBA season.

Q: Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has hinted that next season can be your last. Could it be?

Kobe: "We haven't set anything in stone and I've talked about it before. But could this be the last [season]? Absolutely. It's tough to decide. It's really tough to make those types of decisions. Players I have spoken to say, ‘Kobe you will know.' "I'm making this very simple. Either I like playing the game and going through this process or I don't. I try to strip it down to the simplest form. Either I like playing some more or I don't. But I think that decision needs to be made after the season. It's hard to make a decision like that before the season."

Q: Would you want a farewell tour?

Kobe: "It's hard to do that type of stuff because I don't know if I'm going to retire or not. It's not a swan song when it all has not been written."

Q: How does your body feel now and what is the difference between now and entering training camp last season?

Kobe: "The body is good. I feel good. … My lower body is solid. There are no question marks on what I can do. My body and my legs feel extremely strong and healthy. That's the big difference. My upper body, I've been doing the weights and stuff like that. I've been kind of building up the upper body strength. The biggest change is I feel very, very solid in my legs."

Q: Why do you still put your body through this after all the years and injuries?

Kobe: "I'm crazy. Ha, ha, ha. I love playing. I enjoy it. It's weird. You go from as a kid loving the game, thinking you will be able to play forever to being where I am now and understanding there is some finality to it.

"It's amazing to take a step back and look at that art. You're kind of the opposite of starting out as a kid. You're sitting here at 36 and soon to be 37 years old, it's amazing."