Hassan Whiteside Thanks Kobe Bryant

In a move that most of the basketball world has been anticipating for some time now, Kobe Bryant announced he will be retiring at the end of this season.

Bryant, who has been in the league since 1996 when he was drafted thirteenth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, stated that he has “known for a while” and that he has finally “decided to accept” the inevitable.

And after 20 years on the court, 17 trips to the All-Star game, two Olympic gold medals, and a legacy that will never be forgotten, it seems like the right time.

As the Black Mamba penned a letter to his fans, players from around the league reacted to the news. This included the Miami Heat’s very own Hassan Whiteside, who of course put…