LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant has announced his intention to retire from basketball. He says he will stop playing at the conclusion of this NBA season.

The 37-year-old has played his entire 20-year career for the Lakers, winning five NBA titles. His announcement came before his team's 107-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers, and after the contest the all-time great said he intends to treasure every last moment of his final campaign.

"I've know for a while, right, and I've always said if anything changes then I'll change my mind. But the problem became for me what does that really mean? I mean a decision like this, you can't allow... you can't make that decision based on outside circumstances, it has to be an internal decision. And finally, I just had to accept the fact that I don't want to do this any more," Bryant said.

"I appreciate the really, really tough times as much as I appreciate the great times. And it's important to go through that progression because I think that's where you really learn about the self.

"And so, there's nothing I love more than being able to play this entire season, to go through all these tough times, to be able to suit up and play on the road, and play in these buildings for the last time, you know, I'm looking forward to that."

7-year-old announced decision in the form of a poem

Kobe has seen his play slip over the past couple of years. And injuries have also hampered his effectiveness. The former NBA MVP's long anticipated decision to end his career was posted on the Players' Tribune website and was written in the form of a poem titled "Dear Basketball" that read "My body knows its time to say goodbye, and that's ok."

Bryant has been plagued by injuries that have resulted in only 41 appearances in the last three seasons.

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