Kobe Bryant doesn’t want gifts from opposing teams on retirement tour

With Kobe Bryant on his farewell tour, he doesn’t want any gifts so that nothing takes away from the games being played.

The lone highlight to this season for the Los Angeles Lakers appears to be Kobe Bryant’s final stop in each NBA season. With the legendary Bryant hanging it up after the season, each team is coming out to honor Kobe Bryant with gifts and tributes for his 20 years of service in the National Basketball Association.

While Bryant appreciates the gestures of the gifts and tributes, he is ever the professional and would rather not receive any gifts or gestures from teams so that it doesn’t cause a distraction and detract away from games, according to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding.

"Ding added the five-time NBA champion wants it to feel like “business as usual,” with either private moments or video tributes while on the road."

While everyone loves a good nostalgia trip and a thank you, Bryant is a special level of competitor and it makes all the sense in the world that he doesn’t want anything to take away from the games that he is playing in. He doesn’t want his retirement to be a sideshow to the team, especially a team with young talent that is growing and trying to find their way in this league, just like him when he came into the league right out of high school.

So while Kobe is thankful for all the sweet gifts and thank yous, he knows there will be plenty of time for that after he retires. He just doesn’t want it right now while he is still playing the game he loves most.