by Kimberly Paschal | Staff Writer
Dear Kobe Bryant,
Throughout your 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, you broke so many records, won numerous championships, and changed the game of basketball forever. With five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, one regular season MVP award, and a member of 16 All-Star games, Kobe, you are one of the greatest Lakers and basketball players of all time. I have literally grown up watching you play basketball. As a product of 1996, I have seen your development. I remember watching Kobe as number 8. This Kobe was not as matured as the Black Mamba.