Kobe Bryant had an unprecedented finale to his playing career last Wednesday night, with 60 points on 50 field goal attempts, and now he’s dealing with the question retired athletes face about what’s next. Coaching would not seem to suit him particularly well, since his standards for players would be so high, but a move into television as an analyst would be a reasonable next step if that’s what Bryant wanted to do.

TMZ has reported that TNT analyst Kenny Smith’s dream is to have Bryant join the network’s noted ‘Inside The NBA’ crew, including a job offer earlier in the Lakers’ just-concluded season. Now, with Bryant officially retired, the job offers are apparently becoming more serious.

Bryant’s at times adversarial relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, when the two were Los Angeles Lakers teammates, would make for an interesting background dynamic on television. Things have softened between the two recently, but working together again is a different thing.

At first glance, there would seem to be no room for Bryant on a desk panel that features O’Neal, Smith and Charles Barkley along with host Ernie Johnson. A full-time role as an analyst would not be assured, at least not without a surprising change to the TNT crew heading into next season, but that could actually appeal to Bryant if he wanted to pursue other things with his new-found free time.

Bryant’s next step will surely be notable, no matter what. I also expect him to take his time to figure it out, since he’ll want to be the best at whatever he does.