Is this really it? After 20 amazing years, Kobe Bryant will finally leave us basketball fans with one less legend to watch and cheer for. It is safe to say that as a child born in the mid 90s, he will be labeled as the greatest player of our generation. Kobe is a five time NBA World Champion, winning three consecutively, from the year 2000-02. And the other two came in back to back seasons of 2009-10, in which he claimed finals MVP for both. Just to share a few more of his accomplishments, Kobe has two NBA scoring titles, which means he led the entire league in scoring for that season. He has one league MVP trophy, which means he was voted the Most Valuable Player of the entire league by his fellow NBA competition, coaches and executives of the NBA. Kobe is also the All-Time leader in points for the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent his entire 20 year career. And last but not least, Kobe has two Olympic Gold Medals from the 2008 and 2012 Team USA basketball seasons. 

Now these are only a few of the tons and tons of accomplishments that he has earned over his career, which goes to show how monumental this retirement is for basketball fans across the world. 

Kobe has been plagued by injury over the course of these last few years, even the public eye could see that his time was coming to an end. In what is his final season, Kobe Bryant and his Lakers have struggled continuously on and off the court. Kobe has shot career lows from the field and also from behind the three point line, percentage wise. The Lakers will finish the season with a franchise worst in total wins. 

Not only has the Lakers play been terrible, but their off the court antics have gotten them more negative media attention as well. Rookie point guard D’angelo Russell secretly video recorded a teammate disclosing some personal information about inappropriate relations with women and leaked the video online. So not only do the Lakers suffer from the constant losing, but there is also no trust in their locker room. Regardless we all know Kobe’s time was winding down, this year’s team may have put a stamp on it for him. 

He appeared to be a Rockstar on his farewell tour as he received standing ovations in every area he went in, and even gave away autographed sneakers to opposing players he respected. 

One last showdown, before we all wave goodbye to one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 

Then he proceded to embark on a 60 point ‘mic-drop’. Farewell Mamba.