NBA legend Charles Barkley is someone who does not hold back when giving his own opinion and was certainly at it again when asked about his view regarding Kobe Bryant's impending retirement.

Fox Sports reported Barkley told Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine in a radio interview that he hoped the Black Mamba would just retire and get it over with after next season.

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The 52-year-old former NBA MVP said that he does not want to see great players struggle by continuing to play past their primes, citing himself, Patrick Ewing, and Michael Jordan as examples.

"Kobe's obviously not going to walk away from $30 million," Barkley said, referring to the potential cash Bryant could earn per year if he decides to play beyond this upcoming season. He also insisted that Kobe should treat this year as a "farewell tour" when he would just play "20, 25 minutes a night", take it easy, and not try to do anything that would risk his health.

"The Lakers aren't going to make the playoffs. Could he play some more? Yeah, of course. His best days are behind him," he added.

Barkley also had something to say about other basketball analysts who believe Bryant is going to stay healthy throughout the year.

"Old people don't get healthy; they die. Old people don't get healthy. Father Time is undefeated. You can get in great shape in the summer because you're playing against air. Air doesn't hit back."

Kurt Helin of NBC Sports' Pro Basketball Talk quipped that Barkley's quotes may be pinned on Kobe's bathroom mirror right now to be used as fuel to his fire this season. Bryant will try to lead a team composed mainly of young players starting October and it remains to be seen if he can find his way around them.

Earlier this month, reports went out that the five-time NBA champion was willing to switch positions just to accommodate his young teammates in the starting lineup.

Kobe was agreeable in being shifted to the small forward, or sometimes even power forward, spot to give way to the new Lakers' backcourt tandem of second overall pick D'Angelo Russell and sophomore sensation Jordan Clarkson.

Meanwhile, Lakers Nation believes that this is looking more and more like Bryant's final season in the league, although he may still continue to play basketball overseas for foreign ball clubs as was his reported intention.

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, NBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2015, Charles Barkley, Los Angeles Lakers