Kobe Bryant told his coach he was retiring in the middle of a game

In an interview with ESPN, Lakers coach Byron Scott revealed an interesting story about when he found out Kobe Bryant was retiring.

“I said, ‘KB, I played you 20 minutes in the first half. I’m going to cut those minutes down. I’ve got to cut them down,’” Scott said after his team’s morning shootaround ahead of their game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. “He said, ‘That’s good, coach. That’s all right. I’m going to announce my retirement after the game.’”

Although plenty suspected this could be the year that the long-time face of the Lakers might call it quits, Scott was the first to learn the news officially. Of course, Kobe was calm.

“It was so casual. It was kind of cool,” Scott said. ”[As a] matter [of] fact, he said, ‘You’re the first to know.’ He said, ‘Coach, you’re the first to know that I’m going to announce my retirement.’

Kobe had also hinted to others, including Dwyane Wade, that this could be his last season, but the official decision apparently wasn’t made until halftime of the Lakers loss to the Trail Blazers. It makes sense though, because when you really think about it announcing his retirement in the middle of a game is about the most Kobe thing Kobe could do.