An incredible 20-year career filled with iconic moments and five NBA titles for the Los Angeles Lakers came to an end on Wednesday night. Kobe Bryant officially played his final game of his playing career in the league with an unbelievable 60-point performance against the Utah Jazz in front of a packed house of die-hard fans at the Staples Center.
After digesting his final game and the remarkable ending to his career that spanned two decades, Bryant took to Twitter on Thursday to let his fans and the rest of the world know he’s truly at peace with heading into retirement:
Last night was the final chapter to an incredible story. I walk away at peace knowing my love for the game & this city will never be broken.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 14, 2016
After starting his final game with the Lakers missing five straight shots, the five-time NBA champion turned it on one last time. Bryant caught fire in the second half of Wednesday’s game with the superstar scoring 15 points in the third quarter and erupting for 23 to lead Los Angeles to victory in the fourth quarter.
With Bryant ending his career on a high note, the Lakers franchise heads into a crucial NBA offseason. The team will attempt to replace Kobe with another superstar as they set their sights on free-agent-to-be Kevin Durant.
Although the odds are not in the team’s favor to sign Durant, the storied franchise will go all out in their attempt to sign him while also trying to put more pieces of the puzzle together with plenty of intriguing options in NBA free agency.
As for Kobe, the longtime basketball superstar will head into unfamiliar territory with his company, Kobe Inc. Bryant will get right to work on his new endeavor while leaving behind an unforgettable legacy as arguably the greatest Laker of all-time.