After 20 consecutive seasons with Los Angeles Lakers, NBA legend Kobe Bryant announced his retirement in an emotional poem on Sunday.
ESPN reports the 37-year-old basketball superstar poured out his love for the sport through a poem entitled "Dear Basketball" published at The Players' Tribune website.
"You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream and I'll always love you for it," the 2008 NBA MVP wrote. "But I can't love you obsessively for much longer. This season is all I have left to give."
For two decades, Bryant helped the Lakers win five NBA championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010. With 17 All-Star selections, two Olympic gold medals, a net-worth of 49.5 million dollars, and an 81-point game ranking as the second highest in NBA history, Bryant finally decided to end his career.
"My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it's time to say goodbye," he continued. "And that's OK. I'm ready to let you go. I want you to know now so we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other all that we have."
Lakers' coach Byron Scott told reporters that it's still Bryant's "purpose" to "finish out this season and play." Although the team coach was "shocked" when Bryant informed him of his retirement on Saturday, Scott said the star player "still has a passion" for the game.
"[I'm] just sad more than anything. Just sad more than anything," said Scott. "Somebody who I truly care about, have a lot of respect for. I think it's always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up."
After garnering a total of 32,000 points, the season's highest-paid player still has 66 remaining games in NBA and will still play for Team USA at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
