Kobe Bryant plans to play final games

It’s fair to say that Kobe Bryant’s retirement tour hasn’t gone exactly to plan.

That has less to do with the Los Angeles Lakers’ poor record, however, and more to do with Bryant’s body continuing to break down. His shoulder in particular has given the Black Mamba fits through his final season; the grueling routine Bryant must endure simply to prepare to play is more than we’d be willing to go through.

With all of those aches and pains, Bryant has missed 16 games so far in 2015-16, the vast majority of which have come at home. But Bryant realizes that his career is in its final days. As a result, he told reporters on Sunday that he will play in the Lakers’ nine remaining games, unless something catastrophic happens.

If Bryant had played less and carried a lighter load earlier in the year, perhaps he’d be healthy enough to say goodbye to the league. Instead, we’re left wondering if he has enough left in the tank to play nine straight games to end his career.