The End of an Era: Kobe Begins His Retirement Tour

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

19 seasons, 5 championships, 1 MVP, 2 Finals MVPs, 17 All Star Selections and 3 Gold Medals all add up to one legendary career. On November 11th, 2015, Kobe Bryant announced his retirement from the NBA. He did so through an open letter to the game of basketball sharing his love for the game, but accepting that it's time to say goodbye. While it was not totally unexpected, Kobe’s retirement is a huge shock to the basketball world. Since he was drafted out of Lower Merion High School in 1996, Kobe has amazed fans and players everywhere with his fierce competitive spirit, graceful skills, astounding athletic ability, and his unmatched devotion to the game. Although the past few years of his career have been riddled with injury and the downfall of his beloved Lakers, the Black Mamba will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time.

The mark that Kobe has made on the history of the NBA is matched by few. The Black Mamba ranks as the NBA’s 3rd highest scorer of all time with 32,703 points after surpassing Michael Jordan in December of 2014. Kobe also ranks second in all time All Star selections with 17. This is a true testament to Kobe’s reputation as a player and as a person, as his popularity has remained consistent through the ups and downs of his career. Through thick and thin, Kobe has persevered and worked his way to a successful career. Whether it be because of his 36 game winners or 5 Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010, Kobe has become one of the most marketable and recognizable basketball players of all time.

Through the first 17 games of the 2015-2016 season, Bryant’s Lakers hold a dreadful 2-15 record and the second worst record in the league. While this may not be the ideal ending to Kobe’s career, fans everywhere are celebrating the legend’s career. The crowd roared with appreciation and admiration on December 1st for Kobe’s final visit to Philly to face the Sixers. It was a great night for Philadelphia sports fans who watched their team earn their first win and witnessed the hometown hero’s final showdown against the team he grew up with. Kobe’s father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant,  was born and raised in Philadelphia and spent the first 4 years of his career with the Sixers. Although he spent some time growing up in Italy, Philly was Kobe’s first home.

Over the past 19 seasons, fans have witnessed a high school kid from Philly develop into our generation’s Michael Jordan. Basketball enthusiasts everywhere will be focused on the final season of one of the greatest basketball players of all time as he finishes out an amazing career. On the behalf of basketball fans everywhere, thank you Kobe Bryant for the memories and excellence you’ve given us over the past 19 seasons.

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