The Los Angeles Lakers legend announces he's stepping away from the court after this season with a poem.
- Nov 30, 2015
AceShowbiz - Los Angeles Lakers fans and basketball enthusiasts may be sobbing after learning of this sad news. After almost 20 years playing for NBA, Kobe Bryant has announced his retirement as a professional basketball player.
The 37-year-old announced his decision on Sunday, November 29 with a poem published on The Player's Tribune. "I'm ready to let you go/ I want you to know now/ So we both can savor every moment we have left together," so he wrote.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement to respond to Bryant's announcement. He said, "With 17 All-Star selections, an NBC MVP, five NBA champinships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of out game. Whether competing in the Finals of hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game."
"I join Kobe's millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories," Silver added.
Lakers head coach Byron Scott has also commented on Bryant's decision. "Sad. We talked about it last night. I told him it kind of shocked me when he told me," he admitted.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, meanwhile, said that he's not surprised by Bryant's decision, but found the timing of the announcement surprising. "The surprising part of this is that he made the announcement today," he said, "My understanding all along was that this was going to be his last year. Certainly there's been speculation and this puts an end to any speculation that he may come back for another year. But it was my understanding all along."
Bryant has been playing for the Lakers since 1996. Below is the full poem published on The Player's Tribune:
Dear Basketball,
From the moment
I fell in love with you.
As a six-year-old boy
And so I ran.
I played through the sweat and hurt
You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream
And that's OK.
And we both know, no matter what I do next
Love you always,
