The end is drawing near for Kobe Bryant with the superstar potentially finishing out his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the 2015-16 NBA season.
With Bryant’s career possibly coming to an end in April, many have begun to wonder about what may be next for the five-time NBA champion.
One possibility may be to join the NBA on TNT crew with Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and former Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal.
TMZ Sports recently caught up with Smith at LAX airport and lobbied for Bryant to join the crew in April because he believes the Lakers won’t make the playoffs:
We got a seat for you Kobe on TNT … and it’ll be ready for you in April ’cause y’all wont make the playoffs.”
Smith seemed excited about the prospect of Kobe during the NBA on TNT crew. The two-time NBA champion believes the dynamic between Bryant and O’Neal on the show would be must-see TV:
Could you imagine him sitting next to Shaq with us? Telling Lakers stories … why they hated each other. Why they loved each other. Oh man.”
With 78 games left to be played this season, Bryant has yet to indicate whether he’ll retire after his 20th NBA season. Kobe has struggled in the first four games with the veteran shooting a dismal 32.3 percent from the floor and 20.6 from beyond the arc.
Despite Bryant’s recent struggles on the court and a lot of the talk swirling about his drastic decline, Kobe has continues to stay the course while remaining reluctant to announce his retirement date.