Kobe Bryant to retire after this season

Kobe Bryant announced Sunday on the Players' Tribune website that he will retire after this season, saying "I'm ready to let [basketball] go."

Bryant, 37, is struggling through the worst season of his storied 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and has been plagued by injuries in each of the past five seasons. He entered Sunday's game against theIndiana Pacers averaging 15.7 points per game on a career-worst 31.5 shooting percentage.

Bryant is averaging more field goal attempts per game (a team-high 16.7) than points (15.7). His field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage both rank last in the NBA among qualified players.

But despite the rough start to the season, the Lakers have publicly supported Bryant. Lakers coach Byron Scott told ESPN on Friday that he would not bench the 17-time All-Star for his poor play.

Bryant is in the final year of a two-year deal that will pay him $25 million in 2015-16, making him the NBA's highest-paid player this season.

The expiring contract and numerous injuries had lead to widespread speculation that Bryant would retire after this season. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has publicly said on multiple occasions that the franchise expected the former league MVP to retire at the end of his current contract.

Bryant was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in 1996 but was traded to the Lakers. He helped Los Angeles win five NBA championships and was named the league's MVP in 2008. He currently is third on the NBA's all-time scoring list, behind only Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.