Fansided

Kobe Bryant inks letter to Laker fans

ByJoe Lipovich|
Nov 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Fans of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (not pictured) hold up a sign after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. The Lakers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Fans of Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (not pictured) hold up a sign after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. The Lakers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

After announcing his retirement on Sunday, Kobe Bryant inked a short letter thanking Laker fans for their support.

Not many in NBA history have experienced the emotional roller coaster that Lakers star Kobe Bryant has during his career. He has been both a hero and villain, but if there’s one word to describe the career of Bryant, it’s iconic.

That being said, it’s not surprising that Bryant has expressed his emotions while announcing his retirement earlier on Sunday. After his initial announcement, Bryant took time to thank the fans of Los Angeles with an original letter. Laker fans will be given this letter at tonight’s game.

If there is one part of this letter that summarizes Bryant’s career, it’s this excerpt starting on line five.

“You witnessed my fears turn morph into strenght,” Bryant wrote.”Your rejection taught me courage. Whether you view me as a hero or a villain, please know I poured every emotion, every bit of passion and my entire self into being a Laker.”

Bryant’s career was polarizing. It seemed that Bryant and the Lakers made sports headlines daily, sometimes for issues that would not have come to light if it were involving any other NBA team. However, particularly in the waning years of his career, Bryant showed his desire to compete and to be great on a nightly basis.

As he noted in his retirement announcement, Bryant’s body continually failed him in the latter years of his career. However, one simply cannot make the argument that the Laker legend did not compete until he could no longer survive the nightly grind of the NBA season.

Cheers, Kobe. Thanks for 20 of the greatest seasons that we may ever see.

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