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Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, who announced Sunday he would be retiring at the end his 20th season in the NBA, reached out to Michael Jordan about his plans. The 37-year-old Bryant recounted the story when he called the legendary former Chicago Bulls guard this summer.
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"This is it," Bryant said he told Jordan on the phone. "He is actually one of the first people that I told over the summer. We've been in frequent contact."
Bryant, speaking after the Lakers' 107-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center, said he asked Jordan when he knew the time was right to retire.
"We had some laughs, went back and forth about it," Bryant said. "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.'"
Bryant has struggled with injuries the past three seasons. The player who has won five NBA titles is averaging just 15.5 points and shooting just 30.5 percent from the field this season.
Bryant has a career scoring average of 25.3 and twice led the NBA in scoring.
In a post on the Players Tribune website, Bryant wrote, "This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind But my body knows it's time to say goodbye."
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement: "With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic gold medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game. Whether competing in the Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game. I join Kobe's millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories."
Bryant was the center of attention after the Lakers' loss Sunday night to drop the team to 2-14. He scored 13 points on 4-for-20 shooting in more than 33 minutes.
"I've known for a while," Bryant said to a packed room of media after the game. "A decision like this, you can't make that decision based on outside circumstances. It has to be an internal decision, and finally I've decided to accept that I can't actually do this anymore, and I'm OK with that. It takes a weight off my shoulders and everybody else's.
"If I had a burning desire to continue to play, I would. I wouldn't be second-guessing, I wouldn't be on the fence. I feel very solid in my decision."
Lakers co-owner and executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss spoke to ESPN of his reaction to Bryant's plans.
"When he called me this afternoon and told me and it became a reality, it hurt," Buss said Sunday. "Kobe Bryant is family. He's been on this team for 20 years. That's more than half of the time our family has owned the Lakers."
General manager Mitch Kupchak, who didn't learn of Bryant's decision until Sunday afternoon, acknowledged frustration with the Lakers' struggles in Bryant's final two seasons.
"Clearly, we're not playing at the kind of level that a player of Kobe's age and experience finds challenging, kind of like there's no light at the end of the tunnel," Kupchak said. "So I'm not surprised that he would make the announcement now. I think the game will be easier for him now. I think he'll be able to enjoy the rest of the season."
Lakers great Magic Johnson said he is thrilled that Bryant is retiring on his own terms.
"I was going to support whatever he chose to do, but I think it's good for him and it's good for the Lakers organization to know they're going to move on without him," Johnson told Yahoo Sports at halftime of Sunday night's Michigan State-Providence game. "It's good for everybody, even the fans. They know now too. Now everybody can get ready for the new Lakers after he's gone.
"He's the closest thing we've seen to Michael Jordan. He'll probably go down as the second greatest scoring guard. You couldn't stop him. His will to win was incredible and he stayed in the gym like no other. This guy was 24/7 basketball. I'm happy for him because he said he feels this is his time to go out. He's going out the way he wants to go out."
