Kobe Bryant will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and on Sunday, he announced that this would be his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Most had assumed that this would be Kobe’s last year, but he refused to make it official until now.
Of course with a legend like Kobe, the announcement brought about reactions from all across the NBA, with many current and former players talking about their admiration for him. Lakers President Jeanie Buss appeared on Sirius XM Bleacher Report Radio and spoke on her initial reaction to Kobe’s announcement:
What I see is, I see someone at peace. Someone who is following his heart and his mind. He knows that this is right for him and I’ve always been clear that it’s hard for me to imagine the Lakers without Kobe Bryant. We have a more clear vision of when that day will be, and for me that’s sad.
Very few players in any sport have the kind of impact that Kobe had on the Lakers. With countless memories and championships provided over 20 years, he has truly been the face of this Lakers era and him not being in a Lakers uniform is difficult to imagine.
The Lakers are a family run organization, making someone like Kobe family to Jeanie. The Lakers have always taken care of their superstars and Kobe is no exception. He will surely see his jersey hanging in the rafters and likely have a statue outside of Staples Center as well.