He told SiriusXM NBA Radio that this will be the flawless send-off to a future legend and fans will also be looking forward to seeing him play with the best one last time. “Words can’t describe the amount of respect I have for him”.
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“I think he’s been remarkably consistent”, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said of Clarkson in a recent interview.
Because of this, fans can expect to see Bryant continuing to play 30+ minutes a night, jack up 20 shots a game and go without blame or resistance from the coaching staff despite the clear deterioration of his play – simply because he’s earned it.
Aldridge made the Western Conference all-star team as a Portland Trail Blazer the last four seasons.
“Kobe’s been in every situation and we’re all confident he can make his shots”, said Clarkson, who has averaged 15.2 points on 47 percent shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
“But more importantly, he knows who you are and he knows what team he would like to go to for whatever reason”. Sometimes I think he’s deferred too much because he’s trying to fit in and usually that’s the right thing to do when you enter an organization. “You can’t just focus in on one guy because we’ve got so many other guys who can put the ball in the basket and make plays”.
A popular storyline throughout the start of the season is that Kobe Bryant, in his final year, is getting in the way of young players, such as Clarkson, Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell, being able to grow.
Now, obviously Bryant doesn’t “deserve” to be there based on his play this year.
Bryant has captured four All-Star Game MVPs (2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011) over the course of his career and ranks first all-time with 280 points in All-Star competition, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Silver is right to point out Bryant’s impact internationally.
While Kobe has an insane work ethic and at times appears to be completely consumed by the game of basketball, he does find time to enjoy life, including nice houses, fancy cars, and even a helicopter. Russell checked back into the game and continued to play with confidence, making another three-pointer to give him 12 points on the evening. In a Toronto town that, in a very Kobe-like move that I’m sure he kind of dug, refused to acknowledge that he once dropped 81 points on in a recent tribute video. And considering this is his past year, that’s totally fine.
The Spurs began the fourth quarter with a quick 9-2 run, and the Lakers were desperate for some offensive efficiency without Russell or Bryant on the floor. It’s a basic cable event pitched on a Sunday in February.
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This isn’t like a spot on the Olympic team, something that could cost a more deserving player a once in a lifetime chance at a gold medal. Bryant tapped his chest and pointed to the crowd, acknowledging the cheers and chants of “Kobe” as he walked off the court.
