Lakers legend Kobe Bryant wasn’t expecting all of the love from people after his retirement announcement
Kobe Bryant announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2015-16 season on Sunday night prior to the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Indiana Pacers. That night and in the two road games since, there’s been an outpouring of gratitude and love shown to Kobe from fans and opposing teams knowing that Kobe doesn’t have much longer left in the league.
It’s been amazing to watch, from the Philadelphia 76ers putting together an incredible presentation to the Washington Wizards producing a brief moment in honor of Bryant to even Boston Celtics fans writing letters of respect to Kobe.
As it turns out, The Black Mamba wasn’t expecting a bit of it.
After Kobe’s heroics late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards led the Lakers to a much needed victory on Wednesday night, Kobe spoke on the outpouring of love and support that he’s received and admitted that he was shocked by it all because he thought that he wasn’t exactly the most liked guy in the NBA:
Kobe said he wasn't prepared for all the attention since he announced his retirement: "I thought everybody hated me."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 3, 2015
There’s one way to look at this that makes you say, “Shut up, Kobe; you knew this was coming.” However, there’s another light to view this under where Bryant isn’t entirely wrong.
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Kobe is one of the most polarizing athletes in all of professional sports. While Lakers fans hold him in the highest of regards for his accomplishments and what he’s meant to the franchise, he’s equally as despised by many other fanbases around the league. However, what’s been shown to Kobe over the past few days is simply respect.
For all of the things that make Kobe unlikable to fans outside of the Lakers family, his ability and his success are undeniable. He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game and there’s no way of skating around it; it’s fact. Even if you can’t stand The Black Mamba, you have to respect Kobe Bryant as a basketball player.
How Bryant is received in various arenas around the league is going to be a major storyline for the rest of the season. However surprised Kobe may be by it, though, even those that have booed him have no choice but to clap and cheer as he makes his exit from the game of basketball.