Kobe Bryant. Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Brilio.net/en - In a career that has spanned two decades, Kobe Bryant WAS the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his career in the only team he's ever played on, Bryant has helped the Lakers clinch five NBA championships, won two Olympic gold medals, was selected 17 times to the All-Star Game, and one superhuman performance that saw Bryant notch up 81 points in a single game.
Bryant announced his retirement through a first-person poem he wrote on The Player's Tribune which he titled "Dear Basketball."Not long after the announcement was made, the website had crashed due to the overwhelming traffic.
"But I can't love you obsessively for much longer," Bryant wrote. "This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind but my body knows it's time to say goodbye.And that's OK. I'm ready to let you go."
Current Lakers head coach Byron Scott admitted that it was unexpected of Bryant for retiring this season. This is because Bryant still has one more year in his contract that's worth $25 million each season.
"He kind of shocked me when he told me," Scott said. "I'm just sad more than anything. Somebody who I truly care about, have a lot of respect for. I think it's always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up."
However, many were already speculating that this could be Bryant's last season in the NBA. Many pundits and fans alike had used Bryant's current season's statistics as a talking point as to when and if he should retire.
This season has particularly been a struggle for Bryant as he's been averaging a career-worst 31.5 % shooting from the field. Injuries have also caught up with Bryant's 37 year-old body as he's only participated in 41 of a possible 164 games over the previous two seasons.
(brl/red)
