Kobe Bryant: 'Wishful thinking' to play all remaining games

At most, there are 18 games left in Kobe Bryant's illustrious career, but in all likelihood, there'll be even fewer.

Asked Sunday how many of those 18 contests he'd suit up for, Bryant admitted he'll likely miss some of them.

"Hopefully all of them. I know that's wishful thinking, but hopefully," he said following the Los Angeles Lakers' 112-95 upset over the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN.

The 20-year veteran battled back from a torn rotator cuff suffered last season to put in his healthiest campaign in three years, but Father Time remains undefeated.

Bryant has missed 13 of the Lakers' 64 games this season owing mostly to shoulder issues and rest.

At this point in his career, the sheer maintenance necessary to get Bryant ready for games is "an all-day process," as outlined by an ESPN profile. After logging over 50,000 minutes on his 37-year-old body, every minute of Bryant's day is devoted to a nonstop cycle of training, chiropractics, hot tubs, ice tubs, and most importantly, sleep.

It's a simple reality of his situation: It's not humanly possible for Bryant to get into gear every night like he used to, and it's not for a lack of trying.

Bryant missed three of the Lakers' last five games with a shoulder ailment that's bothered him all season. He's been trying, though, to tough it out whenever possible.

"It's sore, but if I feel like it's not clicking or unstable, I'll go out and play," Bryant said of his shoulder. "That being said, it feels solid right now."

He doesn't want to overdo it, either. He has a life after basketball to consider.

"Last game, I'm riding in the car, and if I reach up to turn on the radio and I can't move my arm, it's not a good thing," Bryant added.