Kobe Bryant Announces Retirement In "Dear Basketball"

After years of dedication to the game, this season will be his last.

NBA player Kobe Bryant is retiring from basketball after the end of this season. The announcement was made on Sunday, November 29 in a poem titled "Dear Basketball" posted on Player's Tribune.

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.

The news is only a confirmation to what Bryant, 37, has said many times in the past weeks that his 20th season could be his last. The Los Angeles Lakers player has had a very lucrative career. NBA commissioner Adam Silver made a statement regarding the athlete's success.

"With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game. Whether competing in the finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game."


ESPN

NBC Los Angeles

Deadline