Los Angeles Lakers

This picture sums up why Kobe Bryant is retiring

Published Mar. 30, 2016 11:33 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

If you had to explain why Kobe Bryant is finally calling it quits at the end of this season, you could point to a number of things.

There's the fact that the Lakers will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. Or you might pick Bryant's career-worst shooting percentange this year. And had he not already announced his retirement, everything going on with the Lakers this week would probably be enough to drive Kobe out the door.

For our money, though, you can't top this picture of Bryant from Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat:

Can't believe he's retiring. pic.twitter.com/p12hp3gjGe
— Tim Ryan (@TheSportsHernia) March 31, 2016

Look at him. He's more ice and wraps than he is human. Even Kobe knows.

He's just wistfully looking in the general direction of the one limb that doesn't require constant medical attention.

Wait, just kidding; Bryant's right shoulder is awful, too, since it's the one with the torn rotator cuff:

A different game, a different wrapping strategy.

Bryant hit his first shot Wednesday but missed his next six. He got treatment on the Lakers' bench after checking out during the first quarter and never returned. "I just couldn't go," Bryant said. "There was no hope tonight."

Bryant's been best friends with ice for a while. Look at these pictures from 2010:

But over time, Kobe has become the worst mummy ever. No kids are going to be scared of that at Halloween, Mamba. And you're seven months early, anyway.

No, seriously, though, we're just trying to deal with Bryant's impending retirement through teasing and laughter. Otherwise, we're going to get sad about his career being over in seven games.

So one more time, in video form:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.