Kobe Bryant officially announces this is his final season…

Kobe, KG, Duncan, Dirk, Pierce, and Vinsanity are pretty much the only superstar players who are still in the league from my first memories of the game. With Kobe being the first one to call it a career, you have to start wondering how much longer each of them will keep it going. Like you said Pistol Pete, I can see my childhood quickly coming to end (especially when Peyton Manning retires).

Kobe, KG, Duncan, Dirk, Pierce, and Vinsanity are pretty much the only superstar players who are still in the league from my first memories of the game. With Kobe being the first one to call it a career, you have to start wondering how much longer each of them will keep it going. Like you said Pistol Pete, I can see my childhood quickly coming to end (especially when Peyton Manning retires).

Kobe is a true legend, probably the 2nd greatest SG ever behind MJ, so it will be sad when he does play his final game.

The injuries of the last couple of years have slowed him down but 15.7ppg on 31mpg is still a great return for a 37 year old but not to the standard Kobe wants to play to. Also any future contract would have been greatly reduced so he can retire still as he highest paid or one of the very highest paid NBA players.

He had an ego but he could back it up far more than most.

I’ll be interested to see how many games he plays going forward with the Lakers looking to retain their 2016 draft pick. I’d guess he’ll play most games and a few big away games to say goodbye too. A lot could depend on if he makes the All Star or reaches 33,000 career points at the same time.I wonder if he had say a 30 plus point game and maybe took the winning shot in a Lakers home game if he might just decide to bow out there, I’m sure the Laker’s owners wouldn’t object to that if he discussed it with them and he could then say goodbye at the other game or set a final retirement game and do an MJ type send off.

Kobe is a true legend, probably the 2nd greatest SG ever behind MJ, so it will be sad when he does play his final game.

The injuries of the last couple of years have slowed him down but 15.7ppg on 31mpg is still a great return for a 37 year old but not to the standard Kobe wants to play to. Also any future contract would have been greatly reduced so he can retire still as he highest paid or one of the very highest paid NBA players.

He had an ego but he could back it up far more than most.

I’ll be interested to see how many games he plays going forward with the Lakers looking to retain their 2016 draft pick. I’d guess he’ll play most games and a few big away games to say goodbye too. A lot could depend on if he makes the All Star or reaches 33,000 career points at the same time.I wonder if he had say a 30 plus point game and maybe took the winning shot in a Lakers home game if he might just decide to bow out there, I’m sure the Laker’s owners wouldn’t object to that if he discussed it with them and he could then say goodbye at the other game or set a final retirement game and do an MJ type send off.

 Lakers fans enjoy. 

(I personally think Duncan did more for his generation,   and deserves these accolades more.   But I understand if you see things differently for your player)

 Lakers fans enjoy. 

(I personally think Duncan did more for his generation,   and deserves these accolades more.   But I understand if you see things differently for your player)

 The achilles injury effectively ended his career. Yes, he came back and played but he was just never the same and could just never get his body back to where it was. If it hadn’t happened I think there’s a good chance he would still be an upper tier player and might have a few more seasons left.

 The writing was clearly on the wall this season and even as a die hard Kobe and Lakers fan I have to admit it has just been painful to watch him play, even worse than watching jordan in his wizards days. It’s like he has been just fighting to prove he can still be the same player, when it just clearly isn’t possible. Hopefully, now he can just relax a little bit and the rest of the season will go a little better. 

I don’t think there is any question he is a top 10 all time player and I believe he was probably the best all-around scorer in the history of the game, even better than jordan. When you take his entire resume into account it would be difficult to name 10 that are more impressive. His consistently was mind-boggling how he managed to remain an elite player for so long while all the other elite players from his era (kg, Iverson, Vince, t-mac, etc.) all either retired or became complimentary players. In many ways, I think his last season as an elite player (2013) might have been one of his most impressive.

He might have not reached his ultimate goal, which was to surpass jordan as the GOAT and win 7 championships, but his legacy is undeniable and he inspired an entire generation just like jordan did before him. Hes a true legend and will be sorely missed, regardless of whether you loved or hated him.

 The achilles injury effectively ended his career. Yes, he came back and played but he was just never the same and could just never get his body back to where it was. If it hadn’t happened I think there’s a good chance he would still be an upper tier player and might have a few more seasons left.

 The writing was clearly on the wall this season and even as a die hard Kobe and Lakers fan I have to admit it has just been painful to watch him play, even worse than watching jordan in his wizards days. It’s like he has been just fighting to prove he can still be the same player, when it just clearly isn’t possible. Hopefully, now he can just relax a little bit and the rest of the season will go a little better. 

I don’t think there is any question he is a top 10 all time player and I believe he was probably the best all-around scorer in the history of the game, even better than jordan. When you take his entire resume into account it would be difficult to name 10 that are more impressive. His consistently was mind-boggling how he managed to remain an elite player for so long while all the other elite players from his era (kg, Iverson, Vince, t-mac, etc.) all either retired or became complimentary players. In many ways, I think his last season as an elite player (2013) might have been one of his most impressive.

He might have not reached his ultimate goal, which was to surpass jordan as the GOAT and win 7 championships, but his legacy is undeniable and he inspired an entire generation just like jordan did before him. Hes a true legend and will be sorely missed, regardless of whether you loved or hated him.

 I hate to see him end his career struggling like he is.  The injuries definitely took a toll on him the last couple of years.  

 I hate to see him end his career struggling like he is.  The injuries definitely took a toll on him the last couple of years.  

Just a quick question which is a bit off-topic .but how many players drafted in the 90’s are still active in the NBA? I can think of KG (95 draft) ,Kobe (96) ,Duncan(97) .Vince Carter,Dirk,Pierce (1998) Andre Miller,Jason Terry,Metta World Peace & Manu (99) Any others? would think by next season may be half of them won’t be still in the NBA ..doubt any would continue beyond 2018 ,most probably not even beyond 2017 which is sad to think

Just a quick question which is a bit off-topic .but how many players drafted in the 90’s are still active in the NBA? I can think of KG (95 draft) ,Kobe (96) ,Duncan(97) .Vince Carter,Dirk,Pierce (1998) Andre Miller,Jason Terry,Metta World Peace & Manu (99) Any others? would think by next season may be half of them won’t be still in the NBA ..doubt any would continue beyond 2018 ,most probably not even beyond 2017 which is sad to think

Of all the players who were drafted in the 1990’s and are still playing, Kobe is probably contributing as much as all bar Dirk and Tim Duncan. But I doubt Kobe would ever want to take a bench role how other players of that era have and KG is probably only playing on in order to help mentor KAT and as T-Wolves have cap space so they get to minimum level with KG being paid.

Kobe had stayed injury free virtually his whole career bar the last couple of years and whilst it has cost him a bit in the last few seasons, I’m sure we are all glad that he played at a peak level for so many years. Also he put up 22.6ppg in 2014/15 as a 36 year old so his scoring was still there to a certain level.

Dirk of the 1990’s guys might play on the longest as he still has his shooting skills, Tim Duncan tends to take it season by season so may play on if he feels he can or if not he’ll just retire. 

Of all the players who were drafted in the 1990’s and are still playing, Kobe is probably contributing as much as all bar Dirk and Tim Duncan. But I doubt Kobe would ever want to take a bench role how other players of that era have and KG is probably only playing on in order to help mentor KAT and as T-Wolves have cap space so they get to minimum level with KG being paid.

Kobe had stayed injury free virtually his whole career bar the last couple of years and whilst it has cost him a bit in the last few seasons, I’m sure we are all glad that he played at a peak level for so many years. Also he put up 22.6ppg in 2014/15 as a 36 year old so his scoring was still there to a certain level.

Dirk of the 1990’s guys might play on the longest as he still has his shooting skills, Tim Duncan tends to take it season by season so may play on if he feels he can or if not he’ll just retire. 

DEAR KOBE. A farewell letter from A Basketball http://www.sbnation.coDEAR KOBE. A farewell letter from A Basketball http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/11/30/9819718/kobe-bryant-retirement-letter-basketball?utm_campaign=sbnation&utm_content=article%253Atop&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @sbnationm/nba/2015/11/30/9819718/kobe-bryant-retirement-letter-basketball?utm_campaign=sbnation&utm_content=article%25253Atop&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @sbnation

DEAR KOBE. A farewell letter from A Basketball http://www.sbnation.coDEAR KOBE. A farewell letter from A Basketball http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/11/30/9819718/kobe-bryant-retirement-letter-basketball?utm_campaign=sbnation&utm_content=article%253Atop&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @sbnationm/nba/2015/11/30/9819718/kobe-bryant-retirement-letter-basketball?utm_campaign=sbnation&utm_content=article%25253Atop&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @sbnation

Am I the only one happy to see Kobe retire ? Kobe is an arrogant, ball hog, cry baby, rapist.

Is it like when someone dies and everyone always says “what a good guy and how he will be missed”. No matter how much of a prick someone was when they are alive, everyone just says politely “what a good guy he was”. I would love to hear just once “Yes, that guy was a prick, he won’t be missed”……

Lakers fan rejoice, you are now saving $25 mill per year for a player that is shooting just 30% fg and 20% 3pt.

Am I the only one happy to see Kobe retire ? Kobe is an arrogant, ball hog, cry baby, rapist.

Is it like when someone dies and everyone always says “what a good guy and how he will be missed”. No matter how much of a prick someone was when they are alive, everyone just says politely “what a good guy he was”. I would love to hear just once “Yes, that guy was a prick, he won’t be missed”……

Lakers fan rejoice, you are now saving $25 mill per year for a player that is shooting just 30% fg and 20% 3pt.