Kobe Bryant Officially Announced His Retirement!

11.30.2015 – This might not be related to LEGO®, but surely for those who where aware of the Sports subtheme would remember that for a season in 2003 they collaborated with the National Basketball Association. Earlier today Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has confirmed that this 2015-2016 will be his last as he announced his retirement. LEGO® produced sets based on the Basketball theme which included a Kobe Bryant minifigure.

This is actually something special for those who where able to acquire the minifigures based from the former and current NBA players in 2003, which lasted a year of licences sets for the LEGO® Sports subtheme.

For those who owned a Kobe Bryant minifigure it will be bittersweet to know that the Laker Legend is hanging up his sneakers as he announced via a poem he wrote on the Players Tribune.

If you’re one of those who completed all the NBA Players back from the time of the theme’s availability after Bryant’s retirement this season only six players produced as a minifigure the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, and Vince Carter are left. Paul Piece who was with Boston Celtics when they produced his minifigure will also retire this season that currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.



Between those six minifigures two of those have moved to their current teams like Vince Carter a former member of the Toronto Raptors is currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and Pau Gasol originally drafted by the Grizzlies is now with Chicago Bulls. So if you are one of the few people who still have these minifigures you’ll be happy to know they will be around.

But Kobe Bryant on his 20th season will be his last and for those who have his minidfigure it will be something to own even though he made a jersey number change and started wearing number 24 during the 2006-2007 season.



This minifigure was released as a polybag accompanied with a LEGO® basketball piece and as part of the NBA Collection (3563) along with Jason Kidd (retired and current coach of the Milwaukee Bucks) and Toni Kukoc (retired in 2006) that came with an Upper Deck trading card and stand.

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