Kobe will retire after this season
37-year-old Bryant says his body tells him it is time to go
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant has decided to retire after this season, ending his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 37-year-old Bryant made the announcement in a post on The Players’ Tribune on Sunday, writing a poem titled “Dear Basketball.”
“My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind. But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye,” wrote Bryant, the thirdleading scorer in NBA history. “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.”
Bryant went straight from high school in suburban Philadelphia to the Lakers in 1996, and he earned five championship rings and 17 All-Star selections during two decades with the franchise — the longest tenure with one team in NBA history. The top scorer in Lakers history also won two Olympic gold medals.
But Bryant’s last three seasons have ended early due to injuries, and he played in only 41 games over the previous two years. He has struggled mightily in the first 15 games of this season with mostly young teammates on a rebuilding roster, making a career-worst 32 percent of his shots and dealing with pain and exhaustion every day.
Bryant scored 13 points on 4-of-20 shooting Sunday night as the Lakers (2-14) lost to the Indiana Pacers 107-103. It was their sixth consecutive defeat.
Fans arriving at Staples Center received a letter from Bryant in a black envelope embossed with gold.
“What you’ve done for me is far greater than anything I’ve done for you,” Bryant wrote. “I
knew that each minute of each game I wore purple and gold. I honor it as I play today and for the rest of this season. My love for this city, this team and for each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey.”
In recent months, Bryant repeatedly said he didn’t know whether he would play another season, clearly hoping for a rebound in his health and the Lakers’ fortunes.
Even during his late-career struggles with the foundering Lakers, Bryant’s fans have remained devoted to the 6-foot6 star who won titles alongside Shaquille O’Neal in 2000, 2001 and 2002 before teaming with Pau Gasol for two more in 2009 and 2010. Only 13 players in league history played on more championship teams than Bryant.
And even with the Lakers already likely to miss the playoffs for the third straight season — a first in franchise history — Bryant intends to keep going. He decided to suit up against the Pacers on Sunday even after playing 34 minutes at Portland on Saturday night.
“He kind of shocked me when he told me,” said Lakers coach Byron Scott, Bryant’s teammate during the 1996-97 season. “I’m just sad, more than anything. It’s always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up. … I thought he probably had at least another year, but this year isn’t over.”
Bryant is the NBA’s highestpaid player this season with a $25 million salary bestowed on him by grateful Lakers owner Jim Buss despite his recent injury problems.
Bryant’s departure will allow the Lakers to split between the past and the future, with young prospects Julius Randle, D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson taking on leading roles rather than deferring to their superstar teammate.
General manager Mitch Kupchak has spent his entire career building rosters around Bryant, but the executive acknowledged frustration with the Lakers’ incredible struggles in Bryant’s final two seasons.
“Clearly we’re not playing at the kind of level that a player of Kobe’s age and experience finds challenging, kind of like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel,” said Kupchak, who didn’t learn of Bryant’s decision until Sunday afternoon. “So I’m not surprised that he would make the announcement now. I think the game will be easier for him now. I think he’ll be able to enjoy the rest of the season.”
GRIZZLIES 92, 76ERS 84: In Memphis, Tenn., Zach Randolph had 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Grizzlies sent the 76ers to their record-tying 18th straight loss to start the season.
The Sixers have lost an NBArecord 28 consecutive games dating to last season and at 0-18 matched the Nets’ start in 2009-10.
ROCKETS 116, KNICKS 111 (OT): In New York, Trevor Ariza hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:14 left in overtime and Marcus Thornton made two free throws with less than a second left as Houston beat New York.
James Harden led Houston with 26 points. Thornton and Clint Capela each had 18 and Ariza finished with 16.
MAGIC 110, CELTICS 91: In Orlando, Fla., Victor Oladipo scored 19 points and Nik Vucevic added 18 points and 10 rebounds to help Orlando to its third straight victory.
SUNS 107, RAPTORS 102: In Toronto, Eric Bledsoe had 20 points and 11 assists and Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak.
CLIPPERS 107, TIMBERWOLVES 99: In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin scored 12 of his 26 points in the final 6:32 to lead the Clippers.
HORNETS 87, BUCKS 82: In Charlotte, N.C., Kemba Walker scored 22 points, and the Hornets overcame the loss of center Al Jefferson, who went out of the game with a left calf strain with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter.
NETS 87, PISTONS 83: In New York, Thaddeus Young had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Brooklyn.