Rumors are swirling that five-time NBA champion and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant might reunite with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. But this time it would be as panelists on "NBA on TNT" instead of inside the basketball court.

TMZ reported that former NBA player and current "Inside the NBA" TV analyst Kenny Smith called out Bryant to join him and Shaq in their broadcasting gig in April when the postseason begins, sarcastically insinuating that the Lakers has no chance of entering the playoffs again this year.

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"We got a seat for you Kobe on TNT ... and it'll be ready for you in April 'cause y'all won't make the playoffs," said the man they call "The Jet".

The article mentioned that Smith said it because Bryant's supposed god-like "Black Mamba" persona "was murdered by Father Time" and there is no denying it right now.

"Could you imagine him sitting next to Shaq with us? Telling Lakers stories... why they hated each other. Why they loved each other. Oh man," he continued.

There are plenty of speculations whether Kobe will retire or continue his career beyond this season. There has been no official word from the man himself.

Former coach and now Knicks president Phil Jackson predicted that Kobe will still play next year, but not with the Los Angeles franchise anymore. Rick Fox, another former teammate, thinks that he will go overseas, most probably to China, to continue his basketball career.

Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley, one of Bryant's harshest critics, said that he wants him to retire after this season because he wants "to remember the great Kobe Bryant" and not a washed-up version of him.

Meanwhile, Bryant had been slowly hinting that this could really be his final season in the league.

An article by CBS Sports' James Herbert indicated that Bryant is currently thinking about retirement but would still want to leave an open door to play longer.

"If you asked me today, I'd say this would be my last year," said the five-time NBA champion. "But you never know."

Those kinds of statements are not really conclusive, but looking at the way Bryant is playing as of late, it looks like the time indeed has come for him to hang up his shoes.

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, NBA News & Rumors, NBA News & Rumors 2015, Los Angeles Lakers, Lakers rumors, Shaquille O’Neal