Now, Bryant is in National Basketball Association Jam. Sort of.
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In that time, he has averaged 25.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.5 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.3 three-pointers made, while shooting 45% from the field and 84% from the line. Based on his rough performance so far, it looks like it’s time to change his nickname to the Gray Mamba (which is to say, he looks super old.), something he’s done a lot of this season. If I’m upset at myself or have doubt, I’m working through those pretty damn fast, as if they never happened. Honestly, I don’t even care about the results of these two attempts; Kobe has always been a volume shooter and had a few ugly misses, even in his prime, and I could very easily show you two awesome swishes of his to balance out the ineptitude of these two scoring opportunities.
Bryant will face Jackson’s Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in what could be Bryant’s final game in the historic arena.
In the interest of making this all a little more bearable, we’re going to take a look at the five biggest keys to enjoying the end of Kobe Bryant’s Hall of Fame career.
Said Bryant on Friday: “That’s Phil baiting you [members of the media] like he always does”. Zero. I think at one point in my career, in my 20s, I felt like I sucked. “Sounds like maybe his a year ago as a Laker”.
Q: On what his main motivation is for fighting through injuries and rebuilding seasons: Bryant: I love to play. I’m here. I’m a Laker for life.
As the game went down the stretch, the Nets kept within touching distance, but the visiting Lakers managed to make just enough plays to claim a much-needed victory.
Kobe also insisted he isn’t looking for a Derek Jeter-like farewell tour, saying he’s “uncomfortable with it, honestly” and joking he’d “rather enjoy the hostility”.
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Down 98-95 with 24.2 seconds remaining and a chance to tie, Nets forward Thaddeus Young committed a five-second violation on an inbounds play at midcourt, and Bryant sank four free throws thereafter to seal the game to a final round of major cheers.
