LOS ANGELES – The end.
It is the thing he has pushed away as it were an annoying defender; a subject that until very recently induced one of his dramatic eye rolls.
However, injuries painfully ended each of his past three seasons and his 20th year was being dominated by serious concerns over his shot selection and minutes.
By Sunday, there was no more hiding a truth that had been confirmed night after night by a steady stream of off-the-mark 3-pointers and mounting frustration.
Kobe Bryant will retire following this season.
The announcement came in the form of a letter, a poem, posted to The Players’ Tribune hours before the Lakers (2-14) suffered a 107-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center.