Kobe Bryant retirement rumors: four-time all-star MVP tells coach Byron Scott this season might be his last

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It is hard to imagine the NBA without Kobe Bryant. He has been in the league for quite some time and has been one of its main attractions even before he was just a teenager starting out. Kobe has since become one of the most popular ambassadors, not just of the league itself but of the sports, in general, to its huge international market.

But in some recent developments, it is very likely that we might be seeing the last of The Black Mamba in this season. Los Angeles Lakers' head coach Byron Scott revealed to the media that his All-star player has hinted his retirement plans, Sports Illustrated wrote.

"We've talked about it a few days ago," Scott said. "Talked about it again and his feeling was, 'Coach, this might be my last year. So if possible I would like to try to play every game.' ...Bottom line is he said this might be his last year."

As per the 37-year-old Lakers shooting guard, who is also in the last year of his playing contract, he has been open about his possible retirement after this season, but without making anything official just yet.

"My message has been consistent all the time. If I change my mind, I'll come back and play. If I don't, I won't," he said. "I've been pretty consistent with that, so I don't know how much, what else can I say?"

Bryant said Saturday, "If you asked me today, this would be my last year. But you never know. We'll keep it open. Whatever happens, happens," ESPN reported.

And on his future plans post-retirement, Kobe has yet to disclose anything save for the one certainty he was sure he won't be doing after hanging up his basketball shoes--- and, that is to get an NBA coaching career. ESPN's Baxter Holmes said in a Twitter post that Kobe has no inclination to coach because he does not want to involve himself with "Divas," and adding that those kinds of players are a "pain in the a**."

Kobe, with a grin, says he has no interest in ever becoming a coach: "I don’t feeling like dealing with divas. They’re a pain in the ass."

— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) November 7, 2015

But, one thing that Kobe would want to accomplish in the immediate future following what could be his last season, is to have another go at a shot to become an Olympics gold medalist in basketball come 2016. According to SFGate, Kobe still wants to be a part of the USA men's basketball team for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

He has been instrumental in helping the U.S. bag the last two championships of the tournament at the 2008 Beijing Games and 2012 London Games. Kobe said that it would mean the world to him to do it again, for one last time.