LA Lakers Rumors: Kobe Bryant 'Not Sad At All' In Retirement After 20 Years In Team
Prolific scorer Kobe Bryant seems to be in his full form as he prepares to take his 20-year career to one last shot this Wednesday as Lakers' faces its regular season finale with Utah Jazz at Staples Center.
For two decades, Bryant demonstrated his athletic prowess on the hardcourt dazzling the world with his magical possession of the ball. With his exit from the professional basketball scene, he'll walk off the court with a secured legacy to his name: third highest scorer in NBA history and 5 championship titles. As he faced diehard LA fans, he is expected to offer a fitting tribute to Los Angeles one last time when he faces the Jazz.
"It means everything. I grew up a die-hard Laker fan, so it's like a dream come true for a kid to grow up and play for his favorite team, and play here for 20 years, his entire career," Bryant said as quoted by Boston Herald.
As he bids his farewell in the upcoming finale, a big question looms over the Lakers' future without him. Is there anything Bryant would be proud of with Lakers' season in complete disarray?
"I'm thankful. I'm not sad at all. I left no stone unturned, I gave everything to the game for 20 years in the NBA and more before that. So I feel very thankful to be able to play this game this long," Bryant exclaimed as he exudes self-confidence like he always does as quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.
Meanwhile, ticket prices have seen an unprecedented increase as Kobe's retirement game nears. Although Lakers' mediocre performance this season does not justify a ridiculous surge in the price of tickets, it is evident that his looming retirement is the main driver for the recent spiking of prices for tickets and Kobe Bryant-related merchandise. As reported by the Inquistr, commemorative items sold on the team's online store include expensive memorabilia such as a $38, 000 cap with 18-carat gold trim and a jacket that's worth $6, 000.
