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 At the age of 37, he realized that time was running out and last
November he announced that the 2015-16 season would be his last as
his battered body was no longer able to withstand the rigors of
protracted campaigns.
Five-time NBA champion and future Hall of Famer Bryant was sidelined
for nearly eight months in 2013 with a torn Achilles' tendon, then
played just six games during the 2013-14 season because of a severe
knee injury.
Last season, he played 35 games but increasingly suffered soreness
in his knees, feet and back, prompting coach Byron Scott to cut back
significantly on Bryant's playing time going forward while altering
his on-court role.
His 2015-16 campaign has effectively been a farewell tour, his time
on court significantly cut back though he ended up playing in 66 of
82 games, particularly on the road, to give fans one last chance to
say goodbye.
Popularly known as 'Black Mamba', Bryant made a living by making the
seemingly impossible possible for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Until age finally caught up with him, he made a habit of draining
game-winning shots despite being double or triple-teamed,
establishing a reputation for being one of the best ever closers in
the NBA as a shooting guard.
At times, Bryant has been accused of being a ball-hog, though he has
frequently excelled as a facilitator and is unrivalled in the modern
game when it comes to basketball IQ.
"Every night you played, I couldn't wait to watch knowing that I
would witness an unbelievable shot or move that I had never seen on
the court," fellow Lakers great Magic Johnson wrote about Bryant on
his website on Wednesday.
"I marveled at the skills and loved the energy you brought to the
game wearing that purple and gold uniform. You never disappointed
the city, Laker fans and basketball fans worldwide. All you cared
about was winning games and championships and that's why so many
people love you.
"Very few people have changed the game of basketball but you will be
recognized as one of them alongside my 'Dream Team' teammates, Larry
Bird and Michael Jordan."
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CUT OF BEEF
Named Kobe by his parents after they spotted the popular Japanese
cut of beef on a restaurant menu shortly before his birth, Bryant is
a five-times NBA champion having won titles in 2000, 2001, 2002,
2009 and 2010.
He was drafted out of high school with the 13th overall pick in the
1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets but was traded shortly after
the Lakers for Serbian Vlade Divac.
He has appeared in 18 All-Star games, was named the Most Valuable
Player for the 2007-08 regular season and landed MVP honors in the
2009 and 2010 Finals when he led the Lakers to consecutive
championships.
Bryant has also won gold medals with the U.S. basketball team at the
2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Twice NBA champion LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who is
widely regarded as the best player currently competing in the
league, pointed to Bryant's work ethic as a significant motivation
for him.
"I knew I had to be better because of Kobe Bryant," said James. "I
knew he was in the gym and I knew he was working on his game. And I
knew he was great.
"So every day that I didn't want to work out or every day I felt
like I couldn't give more, I always thought of Kobe. Because I knew
that he was getting better."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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