EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers signed Kobe Bryant to a two-year contract extension Monday, securing the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history into his 20th season with the franchise. Bryant hasnt played this season while recovering from surgery on his torn Achilles tendon in April, but the Lakers didnt wait to renew their commitment to the five-time NBA champion before he got anywhere close to the free-agent market next summer. Bryant inked the deal with owner Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak at his side in agent Rob Pelinkas office moments before the Lakers left for an East Coast road trip. Bryant, Buss and Kupchak all had repeatedly stated Bryant wouldnt leave his only NBA home. The 35-year-old guard quickly tweeted a picture of his signature with the hashtag: Laker4Life. "This is a very happy day for Lakers fans and for the Lakers organization," Kupchak said in a statement. "Weve said all along that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a Laker, and this should ensure that that happens." Bryant has spent more than half of his life playing for the Lakers, and if he fulfills his new contract, he will break John Stocktons record of 19 seasons with one NBA franchise. But Kobes legacy in L.A. already is secure: No less than Magic Johnson and Jerry West have declared Bryant the franchises greatest player, given his fistful of championship rings and his consistent brilliance while scoring more points than anybody in a Lakers uniform. Although Bryant is taking a pay cut from his $30.45 million salary this season, Kobe and the Lakers didnt exactly agree to a hometown discount, either. ESPN reported the deal is worth $48.5 million, keeping Kobe among the NBAs highest-paid players. Some fans grumbled online that the contract will limit the Lakers flexibility in the free-agent market next summer, clouding their starry-eyed dreams of signing Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. Other fans approved the payout as a reward for an iconic player who still ranked among the NBAs most dangerous scorers before his injury. Bryant and 39-year-old point guard Steve Nash are the only players signed to significant contracts for next season with the Lakers, who have been anticipating a major roster restructuring in 2014 ever since Dwight Howard fled town in July. Even if the Lakers waived the oft-injured Nash under a special provision limiting his salary cap hit, Bryant would eat up roughly a third of their room under the projected cap before anybody else joins him next season. Bryant returned to practice earlier this month, and his return to the court seems imminent, although he isnt rushing back from perhaps the most significant injury of his career. Bryant said last week that he could adjust his game and contribute something to the Lakers right now, but he wants to make a full return when he finally steps on the court for his 18th NBA season. "Its definitely something where youre kind of champing at the bit a little bit, but weve come so far," Bryant said after practice last week. "I want to make sure, we all do, when you step out there youre ready to go the long haul, and (the injury) isnt something that continues on." Coach Mike DAntoni has said Bryant can return whenever Kobe says hes ready. The Lakers are surviving in his absence, improving to 7-7 on Sunday night by beating Sacramento for their third straight victory. "Ive been extremely proud of the way weve competed," Bryant said. The contract is another milestone in Bryants remarkable career. He was a 17-year-old high schooler when the Lakers acquired him after the Charlotte Hornets chose him in the first round of the 1996 draft, and Lakers fans watched as he evolved into one of the most dominant scorers in NBA history, dazzling fans with his offensive inventiveness and drawing critics for his ball-dominating style of play. Bryant won three championships with Shaquille ONeal from 2000-02 and added two more with Pau Gasol in 2009 and 2010, winning the NBA finals MVP award after each of those titles. He won his only NBA MVP award in 2008 and his scoring titles in 2006 and 2007, also earning 15 selections to the All-Star game -- with four MVP awards from the showcase -- and two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. national team. Bryant hasnt given up hope of adding a sixth championship ring to his trophy case, even while the Lakers struggle to keep up with the NBAs best teams. With his immediate future secure, Bryant can focus on getting back to full strength on his injured leg. "Its always a much greater appreciation for it," Bryant said of his imminent return. "You understand the mortality that comes with being on that doorstep. Theres always a sense of enjoyment when you come back." Taven Bryan Jersey . Harris has played in six games since joining the Argos in 2012, completing 17-of-35 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown. Jalen Ramsey Jersey .com) - Ben Lovejoy tallied a goal and an assist as the Anaheim Ducks cruised into the All-Star break with a 6-3 victory against the Calgary Flames. http://www.officialjacksonvillejaguarspr...jaguars-jersey/. LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams. Custom Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . With the Rangers already leading 2-0, Carey Price was taken down early in the second period of New Yorks 7-2 pounding of the Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final on Saturday afternoon. Yannick Ngakoue Jersey . Sami Vatanen had a goal and an assist and Anaheim used a four-goal first period to extend their winning streak to six games with a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.NEW YORK, N.Y. - All thats left for Derek Jeter to do is say goodbye.Right now, though, the captain is still stewing over a lost season.New York was eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday, wasting a three-run lead in a 9-5 loss to Nelson Cruz and the AL East champion Baltimore Orioles.Its tough. Its what you play for. Its a rough feeling, Jeter said.Jeter went 0 for 4 as the designated hitter in his next-to-last game home game, ending a seven-game hitting streak and dropping his average to .253.The Yankees (81-77) missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1992 and 93. The only other time New York did not play in the post-season during in the retiring captains 20-season big league career was in 2008.Its disappointing. Its frustrating, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. This is not where you want to be at this time of year.When Jeter is lauded by fans Thursday night a€” weather permitting. Theres rain in the forecast a€” for a career that included five of New Yorks 27 World Series titles, he will be playing his first game in the Bronx that has no implications on his teams playoff chances. (Jeter was out with an injury last year).For the guys that are coming back and the team that plays its a feeling you shouldnt like and you shouldnt want to get used to, Jeter said.Baltimore remained 2 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels, who beat Oakland 5-4, in the race for the ALs best record and home-field advantage throughout the post-season. Manager Buck Showalter sees Thursday night festivities as good preparation.Not everywhere you play in the post-season is going to be a friendly environment, he said, so it is good to have that kind of emotion going on before you get there.Cruz had two of his four singles and slugger Adam Jones a safety squeeze in a six-run fourth for Baltimore.As they have throughout the final homestand, fans stood, cheered and chanted De-rek Je-ter! for each of the captains at-bats during a rare September mid-week afternoon game. Even though Jeter was the designated hitter, the Bleacher Creatures included Jeter in the first-inning roll call. Jeter wasnt in the dugout to acknowledge them with the customary wave.Jeter was given an extended ovation after he tapped out to first base in the eighth but he remained seated inn the dugout and did not come out for the curtain call.dddddddddddd The game ended when Brett Gardner struck out looking with Jeter on deck.The game wasnt over. We were trying to come back, Jeter said of the eighth. You cant help but notice. I catch myself looking around sometimes and Ive always tried not to do that but Ive caught myself a couple of times.Bud Norris (15-8) fell behind 3-0 despite getting seven of his first nine outs by strikeout. He allowed a leadoff homer in the second to Stephen Drew then fanned five straight, a string stopped in the third inning with Chase Headleys long ball.Norris allowed three runs and five hits in six innings and struck out nine.Shane Greene (5-4) loaded the bases in the third but got Jones to ground into an inning-ending forceout. The rookie had no such success in the fourth inning, when the Orioles sent 11 men to the plate and scored three times with two outs.Mark Teixeira had an RBI double and two-run homer for New York.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: Showalter said he exchanged texts with suspended 1B Chris Davis. Serving a 25-game ban following a positive test for an amphetamine, Davis reported to the Orioles complex in Sarasota, Florida, and will play in instructional games. Davis could return late in the post-season.Yankees: Girardi said Carlos Beltran (elbow) will not play the rest of the season. He will monitor Jacoby Ellsbury (hamstring) but it seems unlikely he will play in Boston.UP NEXTBaltimores RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7) and New Yorks RHP Hiroki Kuroda (11-9) are scheduled starters in the series finale.EAST BEASTNorris improved to 9-1 against the division in 14 starts, and Baltimore is 13-1 in those games.STARRY FAREWELLStars were out to say goodbye to Jeter, though. Former teammates Tino Martinez, Gerald Williams and Cecil Fielder were on hand as was Mo Vaughn, the 1995 AL MVP with Boston. Willie Randolph, a former Yankees co-captain and coach, caught a foul ball behind home plate.NO CHEAP SEATSTickets for Jeters final home game on the secondary market are going from $248 in the bleachers up to $10K in section 19, right next to the Yankees dugout.NO MORE HITSLouisville Slugger said in a news release it is retiring model number P72, the bat Jeter has used for his entire career. It will be renamed DJ2. 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