Kobe Bryant retired from the Los Angeles Lakers this past Wednesday. His legendary career spanned over 20 years, as he collected as many accolades as he could. He even finished his career with this incredible retirement ring:

The "Black Mamba" has been known for his aggressive play, as one of the fiercest competitors to step on the court. But when it comes to shooting, this was the worst season of Kobe's prolific career. This year, Bryant had a 35 percent field-goal percentage; his career average is slightly under 45 percent.

However, there were many games where Bryant looked like a young player again, going on shooting streaks and making shots and plays that no one else on the Lakers is capable of. Even though Kobe Bryant was not the Mamba that we all remember him to be, he continued to provide fans with moments that only a legend could provide in their last season.

Many outside of the Lakers' fan base see Kobe Bryant as a selfish player, often taking too many shots even when he's missing. This same group sees Bryant's selfishness carrying over into his contract, as he made 25 million dollars this last year. Many older players, such as Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki, have taken pay cuts for the benefit of the team. It was noted at the trade deadline that financially, the Philadelphia 76ers could have traded every player on their roster for Kobe's singular contract.

Many were calling for a pay cut, citing his large contract as the reasons why the Lakers have struggled to rebuild. However, restructuring Kobe's contract cannot fix the mistakes that the front-office of the Lakers' organization continues to make. They have had failed signings such as Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer, and Steve Nash. The Lakers have also traded for unproductive players such as Roy Hibbert.

Kobe Bryant has many accolades: five Championships, two-time Finals MVP, 2008 MVP, 11-time All NBA First Team, and a four-time All-Star Game MVP. The only accomplishment Kobe Bryant has yet to accomplish is making it into the Basketball Hall of Fame, which will not be a difficult accomplishment for him.

In his final game, Bryant looked like the Mamba that we all have known over the past 20 years; Bryant played good defense during his final game, and he even scored 60 points for the sixth time in his career.

Even though Bryant dropped 60 points and won the game for the Lakers, it was obvious that the days of the Mamba were gone forever. It took 50 shots to accumulate 60 points; his previous 60-point games took 20 less shot attempts, and the game he scored 81 points required four less shot attempts. Even though he was known for taking many shot attempts, the Lakers were 6-0 when Bryant scored 60 or more points.

During his final press conference, Bryant emphasized his ideal way to go out, saying, "The perfect ending would have been a championship." Kobe was all about winning, and brought continued stability and success to a prolific organization.

Shaquille O'Neal, a former teammate of Bryant, challenged him to score 50 points in his final game. Bryant showed his ferocity and competitive spirit on the court one last time, giving the fans a show they wanted to see.

Even if it wasn't an efficient performance, it was a win. Fans experienced a remnant of the Mamba that once was and the Championship days that have recently been fleeting. Even though Kobe Bryant didn't end with a championship, he ended with the loving and unending support of Laker nation and basketball fans around the world.

Kobe Bryant showed true passion for the game of basketball. As someone who did not grow up a fan of Bryant, I can say that fans of all teams can do nothing but admire the work that he has done for the game of basketball. Kobe Bryant may not go down as the greatest player of all time—according to ESPN's rankings, he's not even in the top 10—but he doesn't need to be. True fans of basketball fully understand his contribution, knowing that his love and passion for the game have inspired generations of future players to love the game they play.

There's nothing more that Kobe needs to contribute to the game. His impact will be felt well in the future, and his name will be cited as inspiration for players to come. Thank you, Kobe Bryant, for your contribution to the game and your unmatchable passion for basketball. Mamba out.