LEGENDARY KOBE BRYANT FINALLY BOWS OUT OF THE NBA

Kobe Bryant is a one-club serial winner who has defined LA Lakers for over 20 years... he bows out of the NBA tonight as a legend

Ruthless. Self-determined. Outspoken. Winner. For 20 years Kobe Bryant has symbolised the NBA - transcending the sport to unprecedented levels. After being handed the baton from Michael Jordan as basketball's flagship player, not only did Bryant accept the changing of the guard he ran with it at the Los Angeles Lakers. Now at the age of 37, the finish line on his illustrious career is within sight. On Wednesday night, Bryant will don the famous purple and gold uniform for the last time against the Utah Jazz.

He is a five-time champion and an 18-time All-Star during a dazzling career

Bryant has amassed 33,570 career points - the third highest in NBA history

The guard (left) replaced Michael Jordan as the NBA's flagship player after the Chicago star's retirement

BRYANT'S CAREER IN NUMBERS 

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 48,576: Minutes played through April 10, 2016, the sixth most in NBA history 

• 33,570: Career points, third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928) 

• 5,640: Points scored in the NBA Playoffs, third most in NBA history behind Michael Jordan (5,987) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5,762) 

• 81: Points in a 122-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006, the second-highest total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962 

• 50: Twenty-four career 50-point games, third most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain (118) and Michael Jordan (31)

• 37: This season he became the first player aged 37 or older to score at least 25 points in three straight games since Michael Jordan at 40 in 2003 

• 24: Jersey number beginning in the 2006-07 season after switching from No 8 

• 20: Seasons with the Lakers, the most with one team in NBA history 

• 18: Consecutive All-Star Game selections (the longest streak in NBA history) and All-Star Game selections overall (the second most all time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 19) 

• 16: Appearances on Christmas Day, the most in NBA history 

• 15: All-Star Game starts, the most in NBA history 

• 13: Charlotte Hornets had the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft when they took Bryant

• 11: All-NBA First Team selections, tied with Karl Malone for the most in NBA history 

• 9: NBA All-Defensive First Team selections, tied with Kevin Garnett, Michael Jordan and Gary Payton for the most in NBA history 

• 5: NBA championships, tied with Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs for the highest total among active players 

• 4: All-Star MVP Awards (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011), tied with Bob Pettit for the most in NBA history 

• 2: Finals MVP Awards (2009, 2010) 

• 1: Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award (2007-08) 

Bryant kisses his Olympic gold medal, his second USA win, after triumphing during the 2012 London Games

Bryant (left) celebrates his first NBA title with Lakers team-mate Shaquille O'Neal in 2000