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.
And that’s OK.
I’m ready to let you go.
I want you to know now
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
The good and the bad.
We have given each other
All that we have.
– From Kobe Bryant’s poem, “Dear Basketball”
On November 29, 2015 one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the NBA announced that he was in the midst of his final season. Kobe Bryant made the announcement with the poem excerpted above, a poem from himself addressed to the game of basketball. After two decades on the court and one of the most accomplished careers in the history of the game, one can let oneself be forgiving of the heavy-handed gesture.
Learn more about Kobe Bryant’s legacy, his career, and how to catch some of its most important final chapters.
Kobe’s Career & Legacy
Kobe Bryant started in the 1996 NBA season after being widely recognized as one of the top high school players in the country (he never went to college). He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets by promptly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where in his second season he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and was named an All-Star – not bad for a newbie. From 2000 to 2002, Bryant and Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal lead the team to three consecutive NBA Championships.
After O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in in 2004, Bryant became the dominant player on the Lakers roster – and started breaking records along the way. He led the Lakers to two more NBA championship victories in 2009 and 2010.
Career highlights with the Lakers (apart from 5 NBA Championships) include an 81-point game that made him second only to Wilt Chamberlain for most points scored in a single game; he was twice named the NBA Finals MVP (2009-2010); he’s been named an NBA All-Star a whopping 17 times, he’s four times been named the All-Star game MVP; he’s the Los Angeles Lakers’ all-time leading scorer; and he has two Olympic Gold Medals in basketball (from 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London). And that’s just the big stuff!
How to See Kobe in Action Before His Retirement
If you want one last chance to see the legend in action before
his retirement, you’d better get tickets fast. Once Bryant announced he was stepping down demand for Lakers tickets skyrocketed, and tickets are even harder to get than normal. CapitalCityTickets.com has a great selection of tickets for all the Lakers’ remaining regular season games at great prices. Check out their selection of Lakers tickets to find the right game and seats for you. 5 games of note are highlighted below in case you need help deciding.
December 30, 2015 – Lakers at Boston Celtics, TD Garden in Boston
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have one of the longest-running and most celebrated rivalries in the history of the NBA. Not only is this one of the final times Kobe will be able to participate, but it’s one of his final road games on the East Coast. If you’re a Kobe fan on the Atlantic, this is a great game for you.
Buy tickets for Lakers @ Celtics here.
January 22, 2016 – San Antonio Spurs at Lakers, Staples Center in Los Angeles
Of course, the Celtics aren’t the only rivals the Lakers have acquired in franchise history. The Spurs and the Lakers also have a vibrant rivalry which has only intensified during Kobe’s career. See one of the final chapters in Kobe’s history with the Spurs on January 22nd at L.A.’s Staples Center.
Buy tickets for Spurs @ Lakers here.
March 8, 2016 – Orlando Magic at Lakers, Staples Center in Los Angeles
While not living up the rivalries above, the Lakers and the Magic are used to butting heads. With the last time the two teams met earlier in the season, which ended 101-99 in favor of Orlando, fans can expect this to be a great game of basketball regardless of anything else. If you want a little suspense, this is the game for you.
Buy tickets for Magic @ Lakers here.
April 13, 2015 – Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers, Staples Center in Los Angeles
This is it, the FINAL regular season game in Kobe Bryant’s 20-year career. The Jazz and the Lakers have enjoyed a healthy rivalry since the late ‘90s, which peaked around the time Kobe came into the picture. If you want to see the last chapter in Kobe’s career, this is your final chance – the Laker’s don’t have the record for the postseason, and Kobe’s performance (and proneness to injuries) this season makes an appearance in the 2016 All-Star game unlikely.
