Kobe Bryant announced that this would be his final season – we take a look at his career in the NBA and with the Los Angeles Lakers and how we got here.
It’s finally here – the moment that fans and basketball enthusiasts everywhere around the world were dreading: Kobe Bryant announced that the 2014-15 season would be his final NBA season. After 20 years of giving his all and being the dominant player who would do anything to win, Kobe announced his retirement on the Players Tribune. And if there was any doubt that Kobe was still a relevant figure, the website crashed within moments of publishing the article.
Kobe's retirement announcement crashed The Players Tribune, down for 45 mins now. Last crashed when Kevin Love announced he'd be back w/Cavs
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 30, 2015
Fans that attended the Lakers’ game last night would receive a letter from Kobe himself. It came in a black envelope and in the letter, Kobe addressed the fans and thanked them for supporting him throughout his time as a Laker. It was a touching moment from a player who doesn’t show his soft side regularly, and a stark reminder of how important the fans meant to him.
Fans attending tonight's Lakers game are getting this letter from Kobe. pic.twitter.com/gRSpuaKoTE
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 30, 2015
Let’s take a walk down memory lane at some of Bryant’s most important moments in his career, and how he speaks of them in parts of his letter.
Next: Draft Day