After much speculation, Kobe Bryant has officially announced that he’s retiring from his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers after this season.
The 37-year-old made the announcement in a post on The Players’ Tribune on Sunday (Nov 29). The third-leading scorer in NBA history wrote a poem entitled “Dear Basketball” to announce his decision (see below).
Bryant went straight from high school in suburban Philadelphia to the Lakers in 1996. There he earned five championship rings and 17 All-Star selections during two decades with the franchise – the longest tenure with one team in NBA history. He also won two Olympic gold medals.
Unfortunately, his last three seasons have ended early due to injuries. He played in only 41 games over the previous two years. He has struggled mightily in the first 15 games of this season, making a career-worst 32 percent of his shots and dealing with pain and exhaustion every day.
The Lakers (2-13) hosted the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, and fans arriving at Staples Center received a letter from Bryant in a black envelope embossed with gold.
“What you’ve done for me is far greater than anything I’ve done for you,” Bryant wrote. ”I knew that each minute of each game I wore purple and gold. I honor it as I play today and for the rest of this season. My love for this city, this team and for each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey.”
Dear Basketball,
From the moment
I started rolling my dad’s tube socks
And shooting imaginary
Game-winning shots
In the Great Western Forum
I knew one thing was real:
I fell in love with you.
A love so deep I gave you my all —
From my mind & body
To my spirit & soul.
As a six-year-old boy
Deeply in love with you
I never saw the end of the tunnel.
I only saw myself
Running out of one.
And so I ran.
I ran up and down every court
After every loose ball for you.
You asked for my hustle
I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.
I played through the sweat and hurt
Not because challenge called me
But because YOU called me.
I did everything for YOU
Because that’s what you do
When someone makes you feel as
Alive as you’ve made me feel.
You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream
And I’ll always love you for it.
But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.
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.
I want you to know now
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
The good and the bad.
We have given each other
All that we have.
And we both know, no matter what I do next
I’ll always be that kid
With the rolled up socks
Garbage can in the corner
:05 seconds on the clock
Ball in my hands.
5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1
Love you always,
Kobe
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