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 "He has indicated to me that this is it," Kupchak said Thursday on
SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and former league MVP, is scheduled
to make $25 million in his final contract season and 20th year with
the Lakers.
There has been speculation that Bryant could play beyond next season
and the guard, who will turn 37 when next season begins, has not
ruled out that possibility.
"I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal,"
Kupchak said. "There have been no discussions about anything going
forward. I don't think there will be."
Bryant's last three seasons have ended early because of injury. He
played only 35 games last season before suffering a season-ending
shoulder injury. He averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6
assists.
"A year from now, if there's something different to discuss, then it
will be discussed then," Kupchak said of Bryant potentially playing
beyond next season.
- - -
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving did not attend the team's
morning shootaround before Game Two of the Eastern Conference finals
against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Irving aggravated the tendinitis in his left knee during the
Cavaliers' 97-89 Game One win on Wednesday night. He was listed as
questionable for Game Two.
- - -
Marques Haynes, known for his dazzling dribbling skills and
showmanship with the Harlem Globetrotters, died Friday of natural
causes at age 89.
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Haynes died in Plano, Texas, Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider said.
In 1998, Haynes was the first Globetrotters player inducted into the
Basketball Hall of Fame.
During Haynes' long career, he played in more than 12,000 games and
traveled more than 4 million miles to entertain fans and display his
talents in more than 100 countries.
Haynes was with the Globetrotters from 1947 to 1953 and from 1972 to
1979. He served as player-coach in 1974-75. (Editing by Gene Cherry)
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