Huge news coming out of Laker land today, as Kobe Bryant told Ken Berger of CBS Sports that when his contract runs up in two years, he will probably retire.

In the report, Berger wrote:

"Bryant conceded that, in all likelihood, the finish line and the conclusion of his current contract will be one in the same. Bryant has two years left, and though he was careful to point out, 'One can never be too sure,' he made it clear in the next breath it's almost unfathomable he would play beyond 2013-14, which would be his 18th season."

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Bryant continued: "It's just that three more years seems like a really long time to continue to stay at a high, high level of training and preparation and health."

"That's a lot of years," Bryant added. "For a guard? That's a lot of years." 

These are very strong words from Bryant, who most people figured would play well into his 40s, until his body could no longer continue, simply because of his obsessive nature with the sport.

Stephon Marbury, who entered the league the same time as Bryant, once told this reporter that "[Bryant] is all basketball, I don't know what he's going to when he retires". 

If Bryant walks away in two years, it sounds as though it's because he wants to go out a star, and not as a complimentary player, like many other greats in their final years (Patrick Ewing and Gary Payton, to name just a few). 

Whenever Bryant walks away, he will surely have a case to be the greatest Laker of all time, and perhaps -- if he wins a couple more rings -- the greatest player of all time. 

SEE ALSO: Kobe says he will let Nash manage the team