Kobe reveals Warriors GM jokingly offered roster spot if he unretired

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, and ... Kobe Bryant?

There was never really any chance that the Black Mamba would elect to carry on his career past the 2015-16 regular season to join Golden State, but Warriors general manager Bob Myers did try to convince him otherwise, at the very least. Myers fielded interest from Bryant on a potential comeback, although he wasn't being completely serious with his offer.

"At my last All-Star Game (2016), we had a chance to catch up. We were staying in the same hotel and I had a chance to tell him congratulations on everything," said Bryant of his interaction with Myers during a recent appearance on The HoopsHype podcast with Alex Kennedy.

"Then, he said, 'Hey listen, if there's any chance you want to change your mind and come back and play another year, you can always come over here (to Golden State).' But it's all tongue-in-cheek, man."

Bryant wound up retiring at the conclusion of the campaign, capping off his legendary 20-year run as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers with a historic 60-point performance against the Utah Jazz.

The Warriors, meanwhile, went on to sign Durant that summer, which helped the franchise capture the next two NBA titles after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.