READ: Kobe Bryant’s Announcement to Retire

We knew this was coming eventually, but the day has finally come. Kobe Bryant has announced that he is retiring upon the end of the NBA season.

Part of the statement from Kobe included,

You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream

And I’ll always love you for it.

But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.

This season is all I have left to give.

My heart can take the pounding

My mind can handle the grind

But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.

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

Even the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver released a statement, following Kobe Braynt's news:

With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game.  Whether competing in the Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game.

“I join Kobe’s millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories.”

One of Kobe's memorable highlights (for fans too) was his 81-point game.