Kobe Bryant on retirement: 'I'm not Benjamin Button, man'

As much as fans want to mythologize the great Kobe Bryant, this upcoming season will mark his 20th campaign.

The end is near for one of the game's greats. It's been no great secret that Bryant - following a season-ending shoulder injury - is not getting any younger. He said it best in an interview with ESPN's Jamele Hill.

“You gotta retire sometime," Bryant said. "I'm not Benjamin Button, man.”

Bryant also shed some light on his post-retirement plans. He's been dabbling in business ventures for quite some time and, based on his comments, it seems like he'll be quite busy when his illustrious playing career draws to a close.

“I love the concept of storytelling," Bryant said. "I love inspiring. I love trying to help people reach their full potential ... I think there's a myriad of businesses where storytelling can then connect to because it's all centered around that. ... It's all storytelling.”

He also added a rather empowering message for his fellow players.

"It's like, we can do more than play basketball. We can do more than simply sit here and be puppets for brands and for an industry and this, that and the other. We can build our own s--t. When that time comes, I'll be ready to do that.”

- With h/t to Eye on Basketball