A Legend Steps Down

On Sunday, November 29th, millions of NBA fanatics around the world were given word that Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant, will be retiring at the end of this season. The 37 year-old basketball icon wrote in a poem that he will always love the game for fulfilling his childhood dreams, but in the end, he writes that, “this season is all I have left to give.” Bryant has missed 123 games over the last two seasons, due mostly to a torn achilles’ tendon suffered two years ago. This season has definitely been a struggle for Bryant and his team, who are scraping the bottom of the rankings with the second worst record in the league. Bryant is shooting a career-worst 31% from the field and 22% from behind the arc, which ranks at the bottom of the league. Despite all of the struggles, Kobe has been receiving nothing but support from his millions of fans across the world. On Tuesday, December 1st, Kobe received a standing ovation from his hometown of Philadelphia as the team took on the 76ers. His Lower Merion High School jersey was framed and presented to him before the game as a tribute video played over the emotional crowd. Even Barcelona’s star soccer player, Lionel Messi, praised Kobe Bryant, congratulating him, and dubbing him as “the greatest.” Kobe Bryant's basketball career will obviously not last forever, but his impact on the game of basketball will. In his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant managed to achieve so much: two Olympic gold medals, five NBA championships, 17 all-star selections, and an 81-point game that ranks second highest in NBA history. He is also third all-time in scoring with more than 32,000 points. Fearless, relentless, and durable are just a few words that describe Bryant. There will always be new talents that might be compared to him, but there will never be another one just like him. As a future hall of famer, and a hero to those who look up to greatness, the memories of his flashy dunks, iconic fadeaways, and last-second buzzer beaters will live on forever

Information from ESPN.com

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