The end of an era

As Kobe Bryant walked to the bench at the beginning of the third quarter a during game against the Portland Trailblazers, he turned to coach Byron Scott and told him he was retiring after this season. Although there had been speculation earlier in the year that Kobe would retire after this season, it was not made official until last weekend, after the Lakers' 108-96 loss to the Trailblazers.

What has been an illustrious 20-year-long career is finally coming to an end, as Kobe begins his farewell tour. As he plays his final games in each city, he is getting cheers from crowds showing their admiration for his incredible success. Although many NBA fans like myself are not exactly fond of Kobe, we still show our respect for him and admire him for how good he really was and for what a role model and icon he was for our generation. For many fans who were too young to witness Jordan in his prime, Kobe was our Jordan. The young stars of the NBA today, such as Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, grew up watching Kobe and imitating his moves. And unless you're a Lakers fan, your memories of Kobe are likely of him burying an impossible game-winning jump shot against your team.

Kobe has had so many iconic moments in his career. A five-time NBA champion, two-time finals MVP, one-time league MVP and 17-time All-star, Kobe has seemingly accomplished everything a player could hope for in his career. Yet at this stage of his career, his focus is not on winning a championship or scoring points, but on staying healthy and mentoring the young talent on the Lakers roster. Much of what Kobe has done in the way of mentoring has come from leading by example. No other player in the league can say that they work harder than Kobe does on his game. Kobe has the will of a champion and undeniable resilience. Rumors say that when Kobe had a bad shooting night and had to fly to another city for a back-to-back, he would make sure that there was an open court for him to shoot around in as soon as he landed. He would shoot for hours until he was satisfied with his shot and ready for the next game. The funny part about that statement, however, is that Kobe was never satisfied, and that’s what made him such a phenomenal player. His talent boosted him to immortal status, but his work ethic and determination cemented him as an NBA legend.

What many fans have found so admirable about Kobe’s career is his loyalty to the Lakers organization. A 20-year NBA veteran remaining with the same team for his entire career is unheard of, and I don’t believe that we will ever see it again. With today’s crop of talent (like Lebron James) running for greener pastures every time their contracts run out, it's unlikely that we will ever find a player like Kobe again. Just as many fans looked for the next Jordan following his retirement, we, too, are now looking for the next Kobe Bryant.