Kobe Gets Extension; Talks Return

Kobe Bryant signs contract extension with the Lakers through 2016. (@Lakers)

Kobe Bean Bryant has to be having a great week. Do you know anyone else who starts out their week getting a $48 Million extension thru 2016? Well that is exactly what Kobe got.

Kobe had originally planned to retire after his contract was up, but since his injury the word has been that Bryant will not be going out on a sour note when he leaves the game. His extension could have even been more lucrative than what it is but because the Lakers organization plan to pursue a top Free Agent this offseason. Steve Nash and Bryant are now the only two players signed to significant contracts thru next year (2nd year C Robert Sacre is also signed thru next year but his contract does not break the million dollar mark) with the Lakers, who plan to make a major push for another All-Star caliber player this offseason since they failed to win in the DwightMare sweepstakes.

Bryant is scheduled to make more than $30.4 million this year, which was the final year on his contract. Jim Buss, the executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss said that signing Bryant to his extension was an easy decision that they wanted to take care of before Kobe made it back to the court to show their loyalty to a man who has brought the team 5 championships along with many more accolades.

Here is Jim Buss statement:

"This wasn't something I decided to do; this wasn't something (General Manager) Mitch Kupchak decided to do. This was a Buss family decision,"
"We made him the highest-paid player in the NBA because we felt like it was the right thing to do. This wasn't about what somebody else would pay him or outbidding anyone for him.

"He doesn't have to prove to us one thing," Buss said. "He's proven everything to us over the last 17 years. We've seen what he's done with broken fingers and torn ligaments. There's no stopping the guy. We have 100 percent faith in him."

Kobe stated Tuesday that he is "probably weeks" away from returning to the Lakers sideline but is deeply grateful for his contract extension. Kobe went on to say, "It makes me want to run through a wall for them," when talking about how he felt about the 2 year extension. His contract is set to give him $23.5 million in the 1st year and $25 million in the 2nd, which would also be his 20th with the Lakers, passing up the Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton who set an NBA record with all 19 of his seasons with the Utah Jazz (1984-2003). Bryant has already said that when he does return he would feel comfortable if coach D'Antoni decided to restricting his playing time (Bryant averaged 45.7 mins in his last 7 games before his injury)

Kobe tweets out a picture of his signed contract with #Laker4Life.

At the end of the day all it came down to was Kobe, the Buss family, and the Lakers organization wanted him to retire as a Laker, possibly the greatest Laker of all time.

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