‘Dear Basketball’: When Lakers legend Kobe Bryant announced his retirement with an emotional poem

At the start of his final season, Kobe Bryant wrote a poem dedicated to the game, called Dear Basketball.

Kobe Bean Bryant was one of the fiercest competitors the game of basketball has ever had. His dedication towards the game and towards winning remains almost unparalleled even after all these years. Kobe loved basketball, and his actions reflected the same.

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Kobe Bryant was always around basketball, even as a child. His father Joe Bryant was a former NBA player and his maternal uncle John Cox was also an NBA player. Kobe started playing basketball ever since he was three years old.

Kobe Bryant’s letter to Basketball

When the 2015-16 season started, Kobe knew it was the last season he would play. He was in his 20th season in the NBA, and he knew his body could not keep up anymore. As a tribute to the game that he loved and cherished so much, Kobe wrote a letter. The letter was titled ‘Dear Basketball’.

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It has been 5 years since Kobe wrote that letter, but it still gives me goosebumps every time I read it. Kobe starts the letter by describing how he used to roll up his dad’s tube socks and use them to play pretend ball.

He tells us how he gave all he had to this wonderful game. He gave his blood, sweat, tears, heart and soul, mind and body everything he could. Kobe describes how everything he did was for the game of basketball, and for no one else. In the end, he gives an emotional goodbye, saying how his body cannot handle the grind anymore.

Kobe Bryant was a once in a lifetime player, and his impact on the game of basketball and the community will forever be there.