At the time of retirement, the Black Mamba had won five NBA championships and won two Olympic gold medals. When the Lakers retired his jerseys, Bryant also became the only player in NBA history with two numbers retired on the same team. In Mamba fashion, Bryant put on a show in his final game as a Laker, becoming the oldest player to ever drop 60 points in a single game. In the subtle art of relentlessness, dedication and self-confidence, it allowed him to bend a defense or control a game at his will. At the core of his work ethic was unwavering self-belief, forcing himself to fend off any fear, worry or self-doubt. In doing so, he set a new template for players and alongside that, Bryant showed that older players can continue to be just as dominant as younger players, if not more. He was clear that his way of play was not selfish, but in fact, pushed everyone around him to be better. When critics called him out for refusing to pass the ball, Bryant challenged his teammates to be better. But beyond the numbers, Kobe proved that it was possible for a player to consistently have a dominant career through 20 years in the league.
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