1-14, three air balls and the wedgie and he goes and sits on the bench in the fourth quarter like it was any other night. After the game, he says it wouldn't have mattered if he scored 80. You are right, he is going down with no grace at all.

Maybe it is part of a negotiating strategy. The Lakers at some point will try to buy out his remaining contract to stop the embarrassment. Kobe is showing he has every intention of collecting every penny. My guess is they arrange for him to retire due to injury so he can collect his money without making every Lakers fan hate him.