Kobe Bryant, by the numbers

But Kobe Bryant decided this past summer he would retire following the 2015-16 season for one simple reason.

Four days later, Bryant informed coach Byron Scott of his retirement plans, and then Sunday afternoon released those plans on the website, officially beginning his farewell tour Sunday night at Staples Center in a game against the Indiana Pacers. Sat here in the room, and you all make it a little more sad when you watch the Kobe ‘fro and the transformation.

“We’ve been in frequent contact”, Bryant said. “I had to accept the fact I didn’t want to do this anymore”. I’m OK with that.

Following the announcement, his celebrity friends and fans took to Twitter.com to show their support for Bryant and praise his career achievements.

Though many supporters are saddened with his announcement, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar said he has “known for a while” and is contented with his decision.

As Bryant takes his final curtain call, there will be understandable chatter about his legacy and comparisons to his idol Michael Jordan. “And I’ll always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer”.

The 76ers have been more competitive lately and might have a good chance to earn their first victory against the Lakers, who at 2-14 have the NBA’s second-worst record.

Bryant took those words seriously considering Jordan went on a similar journey.

Bryant already has received long ovations on road trips this season, particularly in places like NY and Miami where crowds sensed that they might be seeing him as an opponent for the final time.

And while Bryant’s legacy is secured by his championships, scoring titles and 15-year run among the game’s elite, his stubborn final act is more fuel for those who would argue that Bryant has never quite seen the forest for the trees, that he’s confused his willingness to dominate a game with the will to win it. The Lakers seem destined for another postseason absence.

“It’s going to be lovely”, Bryant said.

“There’s so much beauty in the pain of this thing”, Bryant said. “[I’m] just sad more than anything”. It’s important to go through that progression. Really transcends athletics. How do you quantify that kind of success and how do you relate that to the success of the National Basketball Association?

In a poem written on The Player’s Tribune, Kobe announced his exit, saying this season was all he had left to give. “I do everything I possibly can. I feel very solid in my decision”.

That has left Bryant determined to end his shooting slump. When Bryant walked off the floor with 7:42 remaining, the Lakers also had trailed 84-72.

Bryant credited Knicks coach and former Lakers coach Phil Jackson for that encouragement.

Bryant, who married wife Vanessa in 2001, faced his darkest hour in 2003 when he was arrested in Colorado over a sexual assault complaint filed by a 19-year-old hotel employee where Bryant was staying ahead of knee surgery.

The other legacy Bryant carried from Jordan was TV appeal.

He launched branding company Kobe Inc. last year, and has dabbled in film production. Instead, Bryant sounded passionate about another project.

“And so, he also mentioned to me in a private conversation that if he had his druthers, he would love to ride off into the sunset playing one more time, and winning the gold medal”, Colangelo told reporters in Las Vegas during Team USA’s minicamp there in August.