After LA Lakers superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Kobe Bryant announced his retirement Sunday night, the whole basketball world was saddened by the thought of him not stepping on the NBA hardwood anymore after this season.
Co-players were quick to express their support and event went on to honor Bryant for making the game what it is today. He was a role model to many, and one of those he was able to inspire as a kid is OKC Thunder forward and 2014 NBA MVP, Kevin Durant.
Aside from praising Kobe, he also took a shot against the media for making Kobe look so bad for not playing like he used to be this season.
"I've been disappointed this year because you guys [the media] treated him like s---. He's a legend, and all I hear is about how bad he's playing, how bad he's shooting and it's time for him to hang it up. You guys treated one of our legends like s---, and I didn't really like it," Durant said via CNN PH.
Durant also said that he and Kobe will keep in touch even when the later retires.
"He had an amazing career, a guy who changed the game for me as a player mentally, physically," Durant said. "(He) means so much to the game of basketball. Somebody I'm always going to look to for advice, for help, anything. Just a brilliant, brilliant, intelligent man. Sad to see him go. But he put his mark on the game while he was here."
Meanwhile, Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol also reminisced his time with Bryant in an interview with Bleacher Report that had him saying Bryant is the greatest ever.
"One of the greatest," Gasol said. "Where would he rank? That's very subjective. But he's definitely at the top, for what he's accomplished with his teams and how long he's played. The dedication, the work he's put into the game and how much he's given to the game. So I feel like that makes you one of the best ever."
