Kobe Bryant's retirement has taken the basketball world by surprise this weekend. He made it known that he will announce his plans after the but his recent poor form contributed to his decision to call it a day for his career this early.
Through a poem, the Black Mamba announced he will step away from the sport after the season.
The poem cut deep to the hearts of his fans, as well as to his former competitors.
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki says he is disappointed and sad at the same time to hear about Kobe Bryant retirement because that means he, too, is about to is also nearing the end of the road.
"It's disappointing," Nowitzki said after the Mavericks' shootaround Monday according to Dallas Morning News. "A lot of these warriors that were drafted in the '90s are slowly fading away. And it's obviously toward the end for us all. It's a little sad."
While he is disappointed with the departure of man who he battled many times, Nowitzki, who came to the league on 1998, two years after Kobe Bryant, insists he is happy for the Los Angeles Lakers star's decision to hang up his boots. He also called Black Mamba the greatest player he faced in his career.
"I'm happy for him that he made that decision for himself," he said.
"It could lift a little weight off his shoulder. To me, he's probably the greatest player I've faced. And I've faced some great players with Tim Duncan and Shaq and all these guys. But he was something else, just scoring-wise, the shot-making ability was incredible. I was always a big fan. But it's disappointing that we're all getting old."
Nowitzki and Bryant figured in several NBA Playoffs battle, the latest of which was in 2011, the year Mavs won their first title. Also, the two are among the short list of players who played for just one franchise.
Kobe Bryant retirement comes at a time when he is at his worst shooting performance and his Lakers in its third successive bad season. He will leave the league with one season MVP, five championship rings, two finals MVP, 17 All-Star game appearances, a whole lot more records.
