April 13, 2016, Kobe Bryant retires from Basketball. ​ Dear Basketball, From the moment�I started rolling my dad’s tube socks�And shooting imaginary�Game-winning shots�In the Great Western Forum�I knew one thing was real:��I fell in love with you. A love so deep I gave you my all —�From my mind & body�To my spirit & soul.� As a six-year-old boy�Deeply in love with you�I never saw the end of the tunnel.�I only saw myself�Running out of one. And so I ran.�I ran up and down every court�After every loose ball for you.�You asked for my hustle�I gave you my heart�Because it came with so much more. I played through the sweat and hurt�Not because challenge called me�But because YOU called me.�I did everything for YOU�Because that’s what you do�When someone makes you feel as�Alive as you’ve made me feel. You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream�And I’ll always love you for it.�But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer.�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. And we both know, no matter what I do next�I’ll always be that kid�With the rolled up socks�Garbage can in the corner�:05 seconds on the clock�Ball in my hands.�5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ​ Love you always,�Kobe