Kobe Bryant made his retirement announcement official this week, although at least a couple of people were told the news in advance.
Michael Jordanwas among the first to find out when Bryant told him this summer, and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat heard about it last month after discovering him in a most unusual spot.
Way too long for 140 characters, but here's the Kobe story Dwyane Wade told me: This was last month, the night before the Heat hosted the Lakers here in Miami. Wade decided to stop by the arena and get in a soak in the cold tub. He goes through the Heat's locker room area, back over to the training room, and who is already just sitting there in the tub...Kobe Bryant. Wade told me in the 13 years he's played for the Heat, he's never ever seen Pat Riley let an opposing player into the inner sanctum like that, using the team's facilities, and that frankly, he was shocked. Of course, that's the respect that Kobe has earned, and the two old friends had a great, long talk. At the end of it, Kobe asked Dwyane if his sons were coming to the game the next night. Dwyane said no, as it was a school night, and Kobe said, 'you know what, bring them, I think it's going to be my last time here.' Dwyane brought the boys, they got a lifetime memory after the game taking pictures with Kobe, and the Wade family got a little sneak-preview of Kobe's retirement announcement before anyone else.
The location of the conversation is what's most surprising about this, because few players (if any) in the league are invited to use the home team's facilities. But Bryant is one of the game's all-time greats, and after 20 years in the league, it's obviously an honor which teams feel he's earned.
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