Throughout his prestigious career, Bryant has won five NBA titles, led the league in scoring twice and was named to the All-Star team 14 times.
Those spectacular achievements don't do Bryant justice. He has been extremely valuable to the NBA, and his presence has been great for the sport.
He has been the face of the league's most famous franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, for many of his 16 years spent there. There were times that Bryant was thought of in a negative light, but overall he has been one of the most significant players in NBA history.
The NBA is at its best when the large market teams are relevant, and Bryant, sometimes single-handedly, kept the Lakers relevant for the past 16 seasons.
Bryant's level of success is simply not sustainable, and as he ages, his production will begin to decline.
It won't be a sharp decline right away, but over the course of the next few seasons, Bryant won't be as successful as he was in the past.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
