Last Sunday, Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant announced his retirement. Kobe is playing his 20^th season in the league, all with the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant has been a treat the past 20 years, bringing an impressive skill set along with an ego big enough to support a team, entertaining everybody. His game has been unstoppable, proven by his records and achievements. He is a 5-time NBA Champion, 17-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection, and is currently 3^rd on the All-Time Scoring List, and is the only player in NBA history with more than 30,000 points and 6,000 assists. While his stats remarkable, they do not show what made him so unique. At a young age, Kobe was a leader, and he continued to lead, whether he was playing with Shaq or Derek Fisher, Kobe was the leader, and still is to this day. Young guys look up to him while older guys give him the upmost respect.

But it’s not just his game that has caused so many to love (or hate) him. He has been entertaining off the court, giving some of the best post-game interviews, or criticizing fellow teammates for not fulfilling their roles. His ego has caused many to hate, but it is hard to hate a player who can back it up. Kobe has also been an idol to many. Every rookie always looks forward to meeting Kobe, as they have watched him while they’ve grown up. But he is an idol off the court, too. He has partaken in numerous charity events, or held numerous basketball camps for kids. While his game is spectacular, it is not all that defines him and makes him the icon he is today.

This news saddens many as they hate to see one of the games greats retire. For this generation, Kobe is the icon basketball player that everybody knows. Anybody and everybody knows who “Kobe” is, whether they watch basketball or not. Whether you’re yelling “Kobe” as you shoot a piece of paper into a trashcan, or you’re listening to the song “Kobe” by Chief Keef, Kobe’s legacy will live on forever in the hearts of fans across the world. Now, we sit back and enjoy one of the greats’ farewell tour, and reminisce on the career of Kobe Bryant.