I knew the day would come eventually where basketball legend Kobe Bryant would retire from playing professionally. I also knew I wouldn’t take it lightly.
Still, I want to express how grateful I am to experience watching him impact the game of basketball and my life as well.
When Bryant announced this week that he was going to retire at the end of this season, I had mixed emotions about it. I had a feeling this would be the year he would hang it up. I am glad he is at peace about it, but it is saddening to know that a guy that led me to love the sport and who I've been watching my whole life is finally going to walk away.
Bryant has played in the NBA for 20 years and I am 22 years old. It feels like we grew up together. I wasn’t fortunate enough to watch Michael Jordan play because I was just a baby when he was in his prime with the Chicago Bulls. I knew Jordan was considered the greatest player to play in the NBA, but Kobe Bryant is the Michael Jordan of his era.
There's MJ then there's @kobebryant!! The best of the best. What we've seen will never be duplicated. The after taste of greatness. #Mamba
— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) November 30, 2015
Congrats to the Black Mamba. Of all the moments you've provided to the game, the greatest attribute is that you never, ever, cheated it.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 30, 2015
Just got home from our game. Heard @kobebryant is retiring. His Competitiveness inspired me to compete the way I do. #FavoriteAthleteEver
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) November 30, 2015
When I started watching basketball as a kid, Bryant was the one that made me love the sport. I would go outside in the parks and imitate what I saw him do on the court and make a fool of myself. Whenever someone would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was always to be a professional basketball player — all because of Kobe Bryant.
I wanted to be like Kobe in every way I could. I even wore number 24 in high school on my football team. It wasn't the same sport of course, but I approached the sport of football the same way he did basketball.
He’s the reason I am a Los Angeles Lakers fan to this day, even though I am from Chicago (people hate me for that). I watched and felt like I was a part of all the championships in the early 2000s with Shaquille O’Neal and the ones later in his career in 2009 and 2010. He strived toward greatness unlike any other athlete I’ve watched growing up. His will to win was so extreme, and he is someone I look at for motivation. I see how he went after his profession with everything he had, and I want to do the same with whatever is ahead of me.
I personally appreciated the love and gratitude Bryant expressed toward his fans with a thank-you letter to those who supported him throughout his career as a Laker.
And as a fan, it is my turn to thank him the best way I can.
Black Mamba, you’ve impacted people from different generations all over the world with what you’ve done on and off the court. Fans my age grew up watching and idolizing you and you also grew up and matured over your years in the NBA, coming in as a 19-year-old. I can’t wait to see you enshrined in the Hall of Fame in the near future, and we fans will forever miss your tenacity, grit and will to succeed.
Related Links:
Kobe Bryant should sit out rest of 2013-14 NBA season
Devil Dish: We must all respect Kobe Bryant
Reach the columnist at adonis.dees@asu.edu or follow @Don_D24 on Twitter.
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