Kobe Bryant Farewell Video Mix -- > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ78dBD_hoo&feature=youtu.be

Kobe Bryant Farewell:

Dear Basketball,

From the moment
I started rolling my dad’s tube socks
And shooting imaginary
Game-winning shots
In the Great Western Forum
I knew one thing was real:

I fell in love with you.

A love so deep I gave you my all —
From my mind & body
To my spirit & soul.

As a six-year-old boy
Deeply in love with you
I never saw the end of the tunnel.
I only saw myself
Running out of one.

And so I ran.
I ran up and down every court
After every loose ball for you.
You asked for my hustle
I gave you my heart
Because it came with so much more.

I played through the sweat and hurt
Not because challenge called me
But because YOU called me.
I did everything for YOU
Because that’s what you do
When someone makes you feel as
Alive as you’ve made me feel.

You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream
And I’ll always love you for it.
But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.
This season is all I have left to give.
My heart can take the pounding
My mind can handle the grind
But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.

And that’s OK.
I’m ready to let you go.
I want you to know now
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
The good and the bad.
We have given each other
All that we have.

And we both know, no matter what I do next
I’ll always be that kid
With the rolled up socks
Garbage can in the corner
:05 seconds on the clock
Ball in my hands.
5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1

Love you always,
Kobe


NBA: Kobe Bryant (Forever24 RIP)

Personal information:

Born – August 23, 1978 (age 41)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died – January 26, 2020 (aged 41)
Calabasas, California

Nationality – American

Listed height – 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)

Listed weight – 212 lb (96 kg)


Career information:

High school – Lower Merion
(Ardmore, Pennsylvania)

NBA draft – 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets

Playing career 1996–2016

Position – Shooting guard

Number – 8, 24


Career history:

1996–2016 (Los Angeles Lakers)


Career statistics:

Points – 33,643 (25.0 ppg)

Rebounds – 7,047 (5.2 rpg)

Assists – 6,306 (4.7 apg)

Games – 1.346


Career highlights and awards:

5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010)

2× NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010)

NBA Most Valuable Player (2008)

18× NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2016)

4× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011)

11× All-NBA First Team (2002–2004, 2006–2013)

2× All-NBA Second Team (2000, 2001)

2× All-NBA Third Team (1999, 2005)

9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006–2011)

3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2001, 2002, 2012)

2× NBA scoring champion (2006, 2007)

NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1997)

NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1997)

Nos. 8 & 24 retired by Los Angeles Lakers

No. 24 retired by Dallas Mavericks

Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1996)

Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020


Team USA:

Olympic Games:

Gold medal – 2008 Beijing
Gold medal – 2012 London

FIBA Americas Championship:

Gold medal – 2007 Las Vegas

Oscars:

Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film: "Dear Basketball"


Los Angeles Lakers :

Championships :

NBL: 1
(1948)

BAA/NBA: 17
(1949,1950,1952,1953,1954,1972,1980,1982,1985,1987,1988,2000,2001,2002,2009,2010,2020)

Conference titles :

32 (1949,1950,1952,1953,1954,1959,1962,1963,1965,1966,1968,1969,1970,1972,1973,1980,1982, 1983,1984,1985,1987,1988,1989,1991,2000,2001,2002,2004,2008,2009,2010,2020)

Division titles :

NBL: 1
(1948)

NBA: 33
(1950,1951,1953,1954,1962,1963,1965,1966,1969,1971,1972,1973,1974,1977,1980,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,2000,2001,2004,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2020)

Arena : Staples Center

Retired numbers :

13 - Wilt Chamberlain

22 - Elgin Baylor

8 and 24 - Kobe Bryant

25 - Gail Goodrich

32 - Magic Johnson

33 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

34 - Shaquille O'Neal

42 - James Worthy

44 - Jerry West

52 - Jamaal Wilkes

Sportscaster - Chick Hearn