Back to the Los Angeles Lakers Newsfeed

Kobe Bryant to Retire: Takeaways from Lakers Star's Press Conference

Sunday night was emotional for Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant as he stepped onto the floor at Staples Center for the first time since announcing this is his final NBA season.

While Bryant's retirement had been a constant source of speculation since Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak brought it up on SiriusXM NBA Radio in May, the five-time NBA champion made the move official in a first-person article for the Players' Tribune:

"This season is all I have left to give." @kobebryant pens a letter to basketball: https://t.