Kobe Bryant gives Peyton Manning advice on retirement decision

Bryant said he can sympathize with the process Manning is going through as he decides whether to end his NFL career after 18 seasons

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant offered Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning some advice on making his retirement decision during his visit to Denver on Wednesday. 

After the Lakers’ 117–107 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Bryant told reporters he can sympathize with the process Manning is going through as he decides whether to end his NFL career after 18 seasons. 

“I was very fortunate to be able to have that epiphany and feel very comfortable and at peace at it,” Bryant said, according to the Denver Post. “If I was kind of teeter-tottering, I never would have announced it. I would still keep playing, because that means I'm not ready to let go yet.”

• Report: Peyton Manning would like to continue playing

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Bryant, 37, announced in November that the 2015–16 season would be his last, capping a 20-season NBA career. The Denver Postreported over the weekend that Manning, 39, would announce his decision this week, but Manning’s agent said on Wednesday that the Super Bowl 50 winner had still not made up his mind.

“You can’t make these decisions on outside influences or successes or failures,” Bryant said. “It’s a very personal decision, very emotional decision, so you have to make that from within. You can’t cheat the game.

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“I’ve followed Peyton's process from Day One and how he prepares, and hopefully I can find something I can learn from. I couldn’t be any happier for him with how he performed this season, winning the Super Bowl when everyone said he was done.”

- Erin Flynn