In a letter posted on The Players Tribune, Kobe Bryant announced he will be retiring at the end of this season. After 20 seasons in the league (all with the Lakers), 1 MVP, 17 All-Star games, 5 NBA Championships, and 2 NBA Finals MVPs, Kobe leaves a lasting legacy as one of the NBA’s most dominant players in it’s long history.
The season so far has been a struggle for Kobe, only missing 3 games, but Kobe has seen his scoring go down to just 15 points per game while shooting only 31% from the field (19% from 3). He has acknowledged that this season has taken a major toll on him physically, and says in his post, “My body knows it’s time to say goodbye. And that’s OK, I’m ready to let you go.”
Kobe Bryant Announces His Retirement
With 67 games left in the Lakers’ season, we will likely see a retirement tour similar to MLB’s Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter. Bryant will get his much deserved love from each and every franchise and it’s fans. Even with his down year statistically, Kobe will also likely be voted in once again as a starter for the 2016 All-Star game in Toronto.
Kobe will leave the game leading the Lakers in every major statistical category. Also the 3rd highest scorer in NBA history, behind only Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He will forever be remembered as one of the NBA’s most entertaining and dominant players. A player with the greatest killer instinct and work ethic since Michael Jordan, and a player that even at the age of 38, struck fear into every opponent he ever faced. As an fan of basketball, the game will never be the same without Kobe Bryant, and we should all savor his final year in the NBA, as we might not see another Kobe Bryant for a very long time.
I think I speak for everybody when I say, goodbye Kobe, we will miss you.
