Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant announced that he's retiring after the 2015-2016 season, and the NBA stars, past and present, gave their reactions.
Magic Johnson said he's going to support Kobe Bryant no matter what he decides after the season.
"I think it's good for him and it's good for the Lakers organization to know they're going to move on without him," he said. "It's good for everybody, even the fans. They know now too. Now everybody can get ready for the new Lakers after he's gone."
Magic Johnson said that Kobe Bryant will go down one of the NBA's greatest after his retirement, and "the closest thing we've seen to Michael Jordan."
He continued, "He'll probably go down as the second greatest scoring guard. You couldn't stop him. His will to win was incredible and he stayed in the gym like no other. This guy was 24/7 basketball. I'm happy for him because he said he feels this is his time to go out. He's going out the way he wants to go out."
Pau Gasol, who won two championships with Kobe Bryant, tweeted, "We have lived incredible moments together on and off the court. Thanks for everything brother! @kobebryant #ThankYouKobe."
Scottie Pippen, who won six championships with Michael Jordan for the Chicago Bulls, took to Twitter to comment on Kobe Bryant's retirement. He said of the Los Angeles player, "Hard to believe @kobebryant is finally going to hang it up. One of the NBA's great champions. Enjoy the rest of this season my friend."
Retired player Shane Battier also said, "KB scored 56 on me in 3(!) qtrs my rookie year. Pushed me to be better more than any player I've faced. He has my ultimate hoops respect."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith weighed in on Kobe Bryant's retirement as he tweeted, "One of the most under appreciated players to ever play is saying goodbye to the game he gave his all!... https://instagram.com/p/-sMLX6NfF3/."
In a poem titled "Dear Basketball" he made for the Players' Tribune, Los Angeles star Kobe Bryant confirmed that he's retiring after the 2015-2016 season.
"I'm ready to let you go," he wrote. "I want you to know now/So we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other all that we have."
