Kobe Bryant has announced he will retire from basketball at the end of this season.
The Lakers superstar wrote in a poem posted on the Player's Tribune titled "Dear Basketball" that his "body knows it's time to say goodbye".
"As a six-year-old boy deeply in love with you, I never saw the end of the tunnel," Bryant wrote.
"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.
"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.
"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."
The 37-year-old will end his career as one of the most decorated and popular players to have ever played in the NBA, winning five championships in a 20-year career with the Lakers, an MVP in 2008, 17 All-Star selections and 15 All-NBA Team member selections.
The announcement comes with the 37-year-old in the middle of one of his worst ever seasons, with career lows in points per game and field goal percentage. He has career averages of 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Kobe Bryant factfile
Born - August 23, 1978
Age - 37
Birthplace - Philadelphia, Pennyslvania, USA
Height - 6-feet-6 (1.98m)
NBA Draft - 13th pick in 1996
Teams - Los Angeles Lakers (1996-current)
NBA Titles - 5 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
NBA Most Valuable Player - 1 (2008)
NBA Finals Most Valuable Player - 2 (2009, 2010)
NBA All-Star - 17 (1998, 2000-2015)
NBA scoring champion - 2 (2006, 2007)
Olympic gold medals - 2 (2008, 2012)
3 News / AFP
