Kobe made the announcement in a piece on The Players Tribune titled, “Dear Basketball“.
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The Lakers have won just two of their 16 matches so far this season, with Bryant averaging 15.7 points per game. “My heart can take the pounding”. My mind can handle the grind.
Scott added, “I think even as competitive as he is, and other players that have been in his position or somewhere close, they pretty much know when their time is there”.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) walks on the floor during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015.
He was drafted out of high school with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets but was traded shortly after the Lakers for Serbian Vlade Divac. ‘So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
“I’m really driven by seeing what I can do”, Bryant said.
“Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game”, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. It wasn’t like he was agonizing over it or anything, it was like “I’m announcing I’m retiring’ and just kind of went on from there”. “And I’m thankful for it”. His last game in Boston, where the basketball-savvy fans have long loathed the Lakers but will nearly surely salute Bryant in his finale there, is December 30.
However, it doesn’t dimish the first-ballot Hall of Fame career in his 20 seasons with the Lakers won five NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVPs, earned 17 All-Star game selections, third on the all-time scoring list, one NBA MVP award, 11 All-NBA First Team nods, nine NBA All-Defensive First Team selections, and four NBA All-Star game MVPs.
Last season, he played 35 games but increasingly suffered soreness in his knees, feet and back, prompting coach Byron Scott to cut back significantly on Bryant’s playing time going forward while altering his on-court role. The season goes until at least April, and Bryant remains hopeful of being selected to play for the U.S. Olympic Team at the Rio Games next summer. “Somebody I care about, have a lot of respect for, it’s always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up”.
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Bryant always has followed Jordan’s lead.
