Fansided

Michael Jordan played key role in Kobe Bryant’s retirement announcement

By Paulo Acoba

Nov 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant in the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Long before Kobe Bryant started his 20th NBA season, his mind was already set for retirement thanks to some sage advice from NBA superstar Michael Jordan. 

It looks like the sound advice and sage words from one Michael Jordan played a pivotal role in getting Kobe Bryant to not only feel comfortable about the idea of retirement but to enjoy the process along the way. According to ESPN Sports during Kobe Bryant’s official announcement where he publicly stated that he would be retiring at the end of his 20th NBA season, the 37-year-old Lakers guard revealed that Michael Jordan was one of the first people to know about his retirement plans. According to Kobe,

"“[Michael Jordan] is actually one of the first people that I told over the summer. We’ve been in frequent contact. We had some laughs, went back and forth about it. But the important thing for him, he said, ‘Just enjoy it. No matter what, just enjoy it. Don’t let anybody take that away from you, no matter what happens, good or bad. Enjoy it, man.'”"

In his press conference Kobe Bryant specifically pointed out how weird it felt having to share a court with players born after the year he began his NBA career back in 1996. Bryant recounted how a trash talking player from the Portland Trailblazers approached Bryant before the game and simply stated, “We’re going to beat you guys tonight” which Bryant replied, “I got one rule. If you weren’t born when I started playing, you can’t talk trash. It’s a simple rule.”

In a term not often heard in a press conference, Bryant referred to himself as a triple OG NBA player with LeBron James et al. being the senior veterans with Bryant being way older than them.

Many fans are not shocked at the announcement as much as how Kobe has handled the situation. Kobe Bryant seems really at peace with his decision and although many thought he would be the last guy to walk away easily with a retirement announcement, Kobe seems to be doing just that. With every Lakers game very much a Kobe show, it’ll be interesting to see how Kobe picks up the intensity (if there is any left in the tank) to finish off 60 plus games left in the season.

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