The sports world received some saddening news Nov. 29, when one of the greatest basketball stars of all time, Kobe Bryant, announced his retirement following

the 2015/2016 NBA season.

Growing up as an athletic kid and a big fan of basketball, I use to idolize Bryant’s hard work. Throughout his career he’s had the perfect combination of

humbleness and cockiness, deservingly so. Bryant is arguably one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Bryant announced his retirement to the world in a poem he wrote titled, “Dear Basketball.” He showed his soft side to the game he’s played since childhood.

Bryant knows that his talent and his body are deteriorating, and that’s why he’s decided to call it quits after 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. So far this

season has clearly shown that Bryant is no longer able to compete at the NBA level.

The difference between Bryant, and other NBA greats is his demeanor about the game. He played through countless injuries, and never wanted to let his team

down.

There will never be another Kobe Bryant in the NBA. He left an impact on every basketball fan. Whether it be for fans who want to play in the NBA one day or

someone like me who just shoots rolled up balls of paper into a trash can while shouting ‘Kobe!, he transformed the way I saw the NBA, and I am honored to

say I got to see Bryant play.