Kobe Bryant Announces Retirement

Basketball icon and Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant announced Sunday he will retire from the game at the end of the NBA season. Bryant broke the news that he would end his 20-year career in a letter posted to the Players Tribune website. The 37-year-old wrote that basketball “gave a 6-year-old boy his Laker dream and I’ll always love you for it.” Bryant is struggling with the worst season of his career and has been plagued by injuries in each of the last five seasons. “But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer,” he continued. “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.” Following his announcement, Bryant scored 13 points versus the Indiana Pacers, but the Lakers lost 107-103, putting his last-place team at 2-14 in the standings.

Whapoen ....saw him vs Raptors recently !  :-[

Greatest Laker?  some argue that Kobe has been the greatest Laker. 

okay .  ::LOL::

I disagree with that sentiment.  Kobe has been great but Jabbar has been the greatest!  I would rank Kobe on the same level with Magic.

I was so sad when I heard this news, but it was inevitable. For many, many years he gave it all he had and took his teams to amazing victories. He made the book of records and was a true team player. It's understandable that although his mind was in the game, his body wasn't. Basketball is not an easy sport, but he made things look so easy. He is a great legend and he will be missed in the court, but I know we won't see the last of him. May he be as equally blessed in his new journey.

Everyone has its time. Such an amazing player was. Hope he now will become even better father.

You had a great run, man. I will remember you and rank you as one of the greats. But body aging is inevitable. A lot of athletes in many sports don't know when to quit and disgrace themselves.