Kobe Bryant is winding down his NBA career as he looks forward to a much-coveted rest, capping a magnificent 20-year NBA career filled with everything a player could hope for.

The season started with many wondering what the Lakers guard would be planning. He was playing out the last year of his contract and speculations ranging from signing another contract, playing for another team, playing overseas and of course retirement were up in the air.

Bryant tried to hold it all off as much as he could but after a couple of games into the season, the Black Mamba knew exactly what he wanted to do: call it a career and deal with the fact that his body has had enough wear and tear for the last 20 years.

The past two NBA seasons have not been kind to Bryant. He saw both seasons ending up short due to varying injuries. The 2015-16 NBA season didn’t exactly start out that well, too. Right now, his main focus is to finish the season on a bright note and leave the game on his terms.

However, is he really leaving the game for good? There are some who believe that Kobe can still play competitive ball if he wanted to but the future NBA Hall of Famer stands firm on his decision that he will end his career wearing the purple and gold.

Former NBA player and current TV host Kenny “The Jet” Smith seems to think otherwise, according to a report from TMZ.

Smith believes that Kobe may be playing out this season but his retirement is not for good. He believes that Kobe will be back next year.

“I think it’s a 60-40 chance that he comes back. I don’t think he will stay away because his body is going to heal and he will still look the same. He is gonna think about it,” says Smith.

To cut it short, Smith feels that Bryant will do a “Michael Jordan” and return. However, it remains to be seen if all that happens next season.

Bryant is hurting right now and bothered by injuries. At 37, he can walk away but the fire inside to play will certainly be there.

If Smith’s call of a Kobe return materializes, the best bet is to see that happening perhaps after a year of being out of NBA action. The key here is that Bryant needs time to heal, and the only way for that to happen is for him take some time off the hardcourt.