If he was so sure he didnt want a farewell tour. Why would you announce it now? Although I agree he should get a farewell but seriously should retire now IMO. He just cannot shoot anymore.
Actually come to think about it, it could be to give the Lakers best chance to get Simmons ☺

This sucks.

I'm enjoying Kobe's play immensely this season.

Played at least 3 seasons too long - has irretrievably tarnished his reputation, and given so much ammunition to his army of haters.

Kobe started/created those comparisons.

Jordan finished his career averaging an incredible nearly 50FG% - amazing for a volume scorer. Something Kobe did not achieve in any season.

Jordan didnt have 3 season ending injuries either.

Quit hating on Kobe dickbags - still the greatest player of his generation.

That generation overlaps way too much with LeBron to be true.

Jordan had one season ending injury and two significant career breaks, which is probably equivalent.

An impressive career yes, which in my view he would have been wise to call to a halt some time ago. But too much $$ in LA invested in him being the face of the franchise (to the detriment of on court success).

Every kid growing up wanted to be like Jordan. Kobe was the same. Only difference is, he was the best at it.

His whole career has been a homage to Mike.

His retirement announcement game is not pretty to start. LA with 5 points on 0-9 shooting (Kobe 0-4) half way through the first period.

#567458

I disagree that he is "Top 10 of all time easily"

In the mix, but even based purely on MVPs won you have:

Bob Pettit (2)
Bill Russell (5)
Wilt Chamberlain (4)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
Moses Malone (3)
Larry Bird (3)
Earvin 'Magic' Johnson (3)
Michael Jordan (5)
Karl Malone (2)
Steve Nash (2)
Tim Duncan (2)
LeBron James (4)

That is leaving out guys like Oscar Robertson or Shaquille O'Neal who only won one.

In my view there is a case for Kobe in the top-20 to 25 of all time, diminishing with every game he plays!

B.t.w, Kobe now 1-10 today. Can he beat his 1-17 from the other day?

Not that I want to harp (although I am enjoying this), but the Lakers must be on some sort of record pace at half time:

Team: 11-49 (22.4%)

Kobe 2-15
Randle 0-4
Russell 2-7 (perhaps unfair to put in this company)
Nance Jr 1-5
World Peace 0-6
Young 0-3

Hibbert, Bass and Clarkson need to be sacked for actually trying to get the ball in the hoop.

XY - How is Kobe's case for being Top 20-25 all time diminishing with every game he plays? Is Kobe's play this season a time machine? Is he on the Lost island?

Is he shedding each of his accomplishments he's made in the last 20 years with every shot he misses this season? If so - how does this magic work? Is it science? Or just fantasy?

For a second there I thought that was a reference to The Lost Islands, but then I realised it was just a reference to Lost :(

Tommy, its a legacy issue.

In 10 years, nobody is going to look back at Kobe's record and say he was a 46% shooter across his career*.

If you don't care about those things, so be it. Kobe clearly doesn't.


*So long as you exclude his latter years because he had injuries and had a poor team around him

Who cares XY

You're starting to sound like that flog Ingles13. Kobe is #2 shooting guard of all time. Quit jumping online to try play down his contribution to basketball. Yes, so far this season kobes numbers are down.

I'll listen to the legends on espn sing the praises of Kobe - not some bitter child on a basketball forum talk about shot %

Kobe will be remembered in 100 years, I had to recheck your name before posting this.

Stick to space jam little boy.

Play nice Kent. I have no particular Kobe grudge. Still a top 20-25 player of all time as I was pleased to acknowledge.

Got to love it when the Kobe apologists come out.

Kobe top 10 all day every day.

MJ
Kareem
Magic
Bird
Kobe
Shaq
Wilt
Robertson
West
Duncan

11th LeBron

Wilt is only in there because of his stats. If he played against Shaq he would be slaughtered. Wilt was 7 foot playing against midgets.
Lebron will be top 10 by the time he has finished but 2/6 in nba finals so far is hurting his legacy.

XY - i'd like to see your top 25 list if Kobe is 20-25

#Troll with a Kobe complex

I wouldn't put Kobe in the top 10 at the expense of LeBron for starters. 4x MVP, has been the best player in the world in a largely overlapping period with Kobe.

I didn't say Kobe would be between 20-25 (but on reflection I can see why you might think I did). Merely that he easily makes a top 20 or top 25 list. For what its worth, he is probably top 15, but you can't exclude any of the names you mentioned (plus LeBron, Russell, Moses Malone) being in front of him.

Having an opinion and being involved in a discussion about Kobe's legacy on the day he retires can only be dismissed as trolling if you have nothing of substance to contribute.

When the article went up the website wasn't coping with the high volume of traffic. That's what Isaac was referring to.