After months of speculation and rumors, the great Kobe Bryant officially announced he’ll retire after the season in a post at The Players’ Tribune on Sunday.
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The Lakers have missed the playoffs for the past two years amid season-ending injuries to Bryant’s left knee (December 2013) and right shoulder (January 2015). My mind can handle the grind.
“I honestly feel good about it. I really feel at peace with it”, Bryant told media after the Lakers lost to the Pacers on Monday (November 30 PHT).
The Philadelphia native has been a dominant force in the sport for two decades.
Bryant came into the National Basketball Association straight out of high school, won the dunk contest at All-Star weekend as a rookie, played in the All-Star game for the first time the following year and a star was fast born.
Bryant has averaged more than 25 points per game in his 1,293 National Basketball Association matches.
He paid tribute to Lakers fans ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Indiana Pacers, with each of them receiving a letter from Bryant in a gold envelope embossed with gold as they arrived at the Staples Center. In spite of this, coach Byron Scott and the Lakers organisation have put full faith in the veteran highlighting that, outside of injury, Bryant will play out the rest of the season.
“He said “just enjoy it. Don’t let anyone take that away from you”.
“If anything I should be thanking them”, Bryant said.
Ryan’s company took the inventory it had been selling of all Lakers road games to wait for the market to settle. After I thought about it, I felt better about that.
“It’s tough to see one of the absolute greatest competitors go through this”, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade told The Associated Press on Sunday, prior to Bryant making his announcement.
His numbers may be slightly lower than last season, but that is due to the fact that he’s playing just under 27 minutes per game. I remember being at home just watching the games with my mom, my grandma and my dad and just idolizing him. 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. “Whether competing in the finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game”. But now it’s official: Bryant’s final days as a professional basketball player have arrived.
“I said to myself, I’ll probably play to 35, 36, whatever the case may be”. Instead, Kupchak focused on Bryant, admitting “I go back and forth” on whether his season-long struggles just stems from poor timing.
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“So I’m not surprised that he would make the announcement now”. Only 13 players in league history played on more championship teams than Bryant. Once the Lakers broke up his partnership with O’Neal, Bryant rebounded to lead the Lakers to three consecutive trips to the Finals and back-to-back world championships in 2009 and 2010.
