NBA Rumors: Kobe Bryant Prefers Simple Life, Not Eyeing Lakers Presidency

Kobe Bryant is enjoying his retirement and remains involved in basketball in a different way. The 40-year-old Lakers star seems content with where he is right now, preferring to be in the sidelines and coaching his daughters.

The two-time NBA MVP recently appeared on "The Ellen Show" and was unsurprisingly asked for his take on the sudden exit of Earvin "Magic" Johnson. While he did admit that the move came as a shocker to him but made it clear that has no interest in stepping up and taking over.

"No. No. Nope. Nope. I’m staying right on the sideline and coaching my daughters," he said in that segment.

Bryant thus becomes the latest personality to shun links to being the next team president of the Los Angeles Lakers. Pat Riley, someone who gave the Lakers multiple NBA titles during his prime, also shot down the idea as mentioned in a previous post.

"I am not going to comment on another team's misfortunes. There is no doubt I have a history with that team, a lot of friends in the organization," said Riley at that time.

Aside from being one of the successful coaches to lead the Lakers to the NBA title, there is the relationship he holds with James. Although both did not exactly part on good terms when they were with the Miami Heat, Los Angeles may be trying to look for someone who can appease the three-time NBA champion.

That said and had Bryant been installed, it would be interesting how things would have turned out. While Kobe and Lebron have played together in the past, it will be interesting if they can hit it well. Regardless, that may be moot and academic already with Bryant shooting down any possibility of him taking a front office job.

Looking ahead, it looks like Rob Pelinka will have to do double duty from here on. While he is officially the general manager (in terms of title), he may have to call the shots until the Lakers find a suitable replacement to Johnson. And all that starts with the team's next head coach - seemingly now a three-way choice between Tyronn Lue, Monty Williams, and Juwan Howard.

Influence is likely to play a key role in the next coach or team president. James has repeatedly shot down that insinuation, although pundits still feel otherwise.