Kobe Bryant announces he will airball his way into retirement

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

KOBE’S DONE: On Sunday, in a poem published on The Players’ Tribune, which, I mean, come on, a LITTLE on the nose there, Kobe Bryant announced this would be his last season in the NBA. He’s had a famously rough year on the floor, and his contract expires when the season does. He’d indicated already he was likely leaving the game, so this isn’t a surprise. It’s still a reason to reflect on a rather historic career (good and bad but mostly good).

Ben Golliver writes that it sets the rebuilding Lakers free. Bill Plaschke remembers a career worth remembering. Adrian Wojnarowski on why Kobe announced it now. Mitch Kupchak talks about the state of the Lakers.

To celebrate his announcement, Kobe went 4-for-20 from the floor and airballed the potential tying three inside of five seconds left. The Lakers are 2-14.

IMPORTANT RESULTS FROM THE WEEKEND: The Warriors still have not lost (18-0). The Sixers have still not won (0-18). In fact, we have a mammoth game in Philadelphia (the closest thing Kobe has to a hometown) on Tuesday as the Lakers visit. The record for worst start in NBA history is the 0-18 shared by these Sixers and the 2010 Nets. So, Philly has the opportunity to claim that as its own on Tuesday ... unless they embarrass the Lakers. And to be sure, the Sixers might be better than the Lakers right now.

OH NO: Dwight Howard dunked on Kristaps Porzingis very hard and now my mouth tastes like battery acid.

WELP: TMZ published footage of Jahlil Okafor knocking out a Bostonian heckler outside a club last week. Then a deluge of bad Okafor news come pouring out: he was involved in a confrontation in which a gun was pointed at him months ago, and three weeks ago was cited for reckless driving. Good times in the City of Brotherly Love.

ALL HAIL THE KING: LeBron beat the Magic with a Magicesque floater.

DOUBLE FEATURE: Stephen Curry juked Ronnie Price once and then was like, “Hey, let’s juke Ronnie Price again.” Cruel.

DOUBLE FEATURE II: THE SEQUEL: DeAndre Jordan airballing a free throw is not notable. DeAndre Jordan airballing both of his attempts from the line is effing impressive.

YEP: Tim Cato writes that the Wizards are kiiiind of a disaster. On Saturday, Cory Joseph hit ‘em with that sweet chin music.

ONE OF THE GUYS IS DOING IS OWN THING: This is Marc Gasol shooting a basketball with his head.

THE CRUEL TUTELAGE: This brilliant Jackie MacMullan piece on Kevin Garnett and mentorship opens with the mother of all KG IS CRAZY stories. Holy smokes.

SLEEVES ‘R US: Allen Iverson wore sleeves so now EVERYONE wears sleeves.

WOE BOY: We found something Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant dislike more than the media: Reggie Jackson!

TONIGHT TONIGHT: NBA TV has Spurs-Bulls at 8 p.m. ET. The Warriors go for 19-0 against the Jazz (9, League Pass). Rondo Revenge Game at 10, albeit in Sacramento, not Dallas. Celtics-Heat at 7:30, Thunder-Hawks at 8.

Happy Monday. See you next time.