Bryant Moves into 2nd Place on Lakers’ All-Time Assists List

Kobe Bryant, who is retiring after 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the NBA season, says he has given up on his dream of making a competitive farewell to basketball at this year’s Rio Olympics.

Bryant revealed Saturday that he is removing himself from consideration for a spot on the US team that will compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics this summer, meaning the five-time National Basketball Association champion’s retirement begins officially when his 20th and final season with the Los Angeles Lakers ends.

The 37-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star said in December that another Olympic appearance would be a “beautiful” ending to his career after helping the United States win a gold medal in 2008 and 2012.

Kobe Bryant is now suffering from some injuries, with an Achilles strain and a persistently sore right shoulder. “I’m going to retire, then that’s it”, Bryant said.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was voted into the 1989 All-Star Game during his farewell season after failing to make the game as a fan-voted starter (then-Akeem Olajuwon, rightfully, got that nod) by the league’s coaches.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points and San Antonio got an early spark from Jonathon Simmons to beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-83 and remain undefeated at home.

His own ball-handling skills aside, Bryant said the best passer he’s played alongside has been Pau Gasol, now with the Chicago Bulls.

“I’ve had my moment”, Bryant said in a pregame news conference. There are obviously more deserving players with more impressive statlines, including Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard, just to name a few.

What’s more, Favors, the guy who just might be your best all-around player, has already been on the shelf awhile, and you still don’t know when you’re gonna get him back.

It’s tough having to start Jason Terry or to even have him play 10 minutes or more every game.

The Spurs overcame their worst first quarter of the season but turned things around with their defense, which held Dallas to 35.8 percent shooting, the Mavericks’ lowest field goal percentage of the season.

Bryant, who is the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history, is expected to feature in the side’s final regular-season game against the Utah Jazz on April 13.

“It felt good. It felt close, ‘” Bryant said afterwards. The Lakers have one more date at Vivint Arena in late March.

“I think the coaches would, yeah”, Lakers head coach Byron Scott said.