#KobeWatch 2012-13 Edition

In a recent interview with CNN Turkey, Kobe Bryant said he hopes to play until he's 40 years old.

This means another six years of 'Bean,' in contrast to his earlier declarations that he was planning to retire when his current contract ended following the 2013-14 season.

"My aim is to play until I'm 40 years old and I believe I can do that. This year, we added very good players to our squad," he said.

While he may not make it quite that far, he's obviously been reinvigorated by the recent additions the Lakers have brought to L.A.

Here at the #KobeWatch that's exciting news as we've watched him climb the all-time NBA scoring list from about 13th place all the way up to fifth place, surpassing former teammate Shaquille O'Neal's 28,596 points last season.

Kobe currently sits at 29,591 points after he notched 107 through his first four games of the new campaign. That's an average of 26.8 points per game, and though he likely won't keep up that pace the rest of the season he also likely won't decline much from his career average of 25.4.

If it's fair to assume Kobe could average 24 points per game this season, a very reasonable expectation and his lowest in a decade, he'd score 1872 more points through a full 82-game season.

That estimate would bring Kobe up to 31,463, enough to pass Wilt Chamberlain's 31,419 for fourth on the all-time scoring list.

First, he has to eclipse the 30,000 point plateau, and it'll happen soon. At 24 points per contest, Kobe would need just 17 games to become the fifth player in NBA history to crack 30K.

Michael Jordan sits in third place with 32,292, and Kobe would have to average 33 points per contest to top the player he's most compared to if he hopes to accomplish the feat this season. Though he's done something like it before (an absurd 35.4 points per game in 2005-06) it's extremely unlikely with the teammates around him and his current age that he'd attempt do to so.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record 38,387 points are almost untouchable at this point, but if Kobe can continue at a pace of 24 points per game for 367 more games he'll set the all-time record. That's four and a half full 82-game seasons, and if Kobe continues to play for six more years and can stay healthy, it's worth a dream.

So while we wait and watch, Kobe keeps plodding through his 17th campaign with a shot at climbing the ladder once again. And if he does as this season draws to a close, we'll be here ready to celebrate another milestone.

THE LADDER

38,387

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

 36,929

Karl Malone

32,292

Michael Jordan

31,419

Wilt Chamberlain

29,591

Kobe Bryant