Los Angeles Lakers executive vice-president of basketball operations Jim Buss has insisted that there should be no regrets about the deal signed by Kobe Bryant in 2013.
Despite injuries disrupting the latter stages of his career, Bryant is currently in the second year of a two-year contract worth a reported $48.5m (£31.4m), which was given to him as he returned to the court from an Achilles tendon tear.
However, Buss claims that the extension was no more than the 17-time All-Star deserved after helping the Lakers to five NBA titles.
"You give Kobe Bryant $50m for two years," Buss, who is also part-owner of the franchise, told USA Today. "Are you kidding me? What did he bring us? In this day and age, what did he bring us, for 20 years? And if that isn't what you're supposed to do, then I have no idea what life is all about.
"You pay the guy. You believe in the guy. If he ends up [staying healthy], that's fantastic. Well everybody cut me up for that, but I'd say over 200 fans have come up to me and said, 'Thank you so much for letting my kid see Kobe Bryant for two more years.' And I'm like, 'You know what? I'm glad I can see him for two more years.' "
Bryant has not yet revealed whether he intends to retire at the end of this season, despite playing just 35 games in the last campaign.
Callum Mulvihill
