"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do." - Kobe Bryant

One of the most renowned basketball players of the 21st century retired this past Wednesday, April 13. Kobe Bryant, known for his competitive attitude and high shot total, retired from the NBA after 20 consecutive seasons on the Los Angeles Lakers. In addition to his record for most seasons with the same team, Kobe has been an 18 time All-Star, 15 time All-NBA Team member, 12 time All-Defensive Team member, and holds multiple records for scoring. Bryant ranks third on the NBA's all-time regular season and all-time postseason scoring lists, and he led the NBA in scoring during his 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons.*

On the court, Kobe was a menace. His six-foot-six frame proved to be an advantage for him. Playing as a shooting guard his entire NBA career, Kobe Bryant was known for his signature "fadeaway" jump shot. Early in his career, Kobe adopted the nickname "Black Mamba," proving that his playing style is much like the venomous African snake: agile and aggressive.

The aspect of Kobe Bryant that truly represents him best is his mentality toward the game. Basketball was his life. His high confidence came off as arrogance, and his bad sportsmanlike behavior, as well as the fact that he is a ball-hog are key reasons why most people dislike Kobe Bryant. Though he isn't known for being a team player, his attitude toward winning was unlike any other. Winning was all Kobe cared about. "I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."

Kobe Bryant's last NBA game was a true display of his skill set. Every time he had possession of the ball, he seized the opportunity to shoot. Bryant had a few air balls in his last game, living proof of his quote "I'm chasing perfection." With 50 shots throughout the entire game, he scored 60 points, and totaled a shooting percentage of 44. In the fourth quarter, Bryant unleashed all that he had, scoring 23 points. Kobe's last professional game ended with a nail-biting win for the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 101 points against the Utah Jazz, who scored 96 points.

If you only take away one thing from Kobe Bryant, it should be this:

"Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise."

Kobe Bryant is a legend that will continue to inspire all who love the game of basketball for generations to come.

*All stats are directly from Wikipedia.