Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant admitted that he could retire after the 2015-16 NBA season.

During an interview with Yahoo Sports, Bryant confirmed Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak's previous statement about the 36-year-old's plan to retire once his contract runs out next year.

"We haven't set anything in stone and I've talked about it before. But could this be the last? Absolutely," Bryant said. "It's tough to decide. It's really tough to make those types of decisions."

Bryant quickly added, though, that anything can still happen in months to come, which is the reason why he believes the decision should be made once the season is over -- not before or while the 2015-16 NBA season is ongoing.

"I'm making this very simple," Bryant said. "Either I like playing the game and going through this process or I don't. I try to strip it down to the simplest form. Either I like playing some more or I don't. But I think that decision needs to be made after the season. It's hard to make a decision like that before the season."

The 19-year veteran is looking forward to playing alongside their young group of players led by rookie D'Angelo Russell and incoming second-year guard Jordan Clarkson.

Bryant was limited to just 35 games last season after sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury. During the 2013-14 NBA season, he played in just six games due to a knee injury. Several weeks before training camp, Bryant said that he is feeling good physically compared to last year.

"My body and my legs feel extremely strong and healthy," Bryant said. "That's the big difference. My upper body, I've been doing the weights and stuff like that. I've been kind of building up the upper body strength. The biggest change is I feel very, very solid in my legs."

Bryant, who averaged 22.3 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game last season, will be playing in the final year of the two-year, $48.5 million contract extension he signed in 2013.

Bryant could earn another huge paycheck because the salary cap is expected to increase dramatically before the 2016-17 NBA season because of the new television deal. The 17-time All-Star insisted, though, that huge salary will not be a factor when he makes his decision on whether or not to continue playing after the upcoming season.

"I've never played for the money," Bryant said. "It's never moved me. Money can come and go. I have a perspective about finances. The family is fine. What is more money going to bring other than more money? I have my family, I have my health and we're comfortable financially and that is a massive blessing."

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