“[Bryant has] meant so much to this game, so much to me”, said George, who fell one point shy of matching Wilt Chamberlain’s individual All-Star mark of 42 in 1962.
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In 75 seconds of the third quarter of Sunday’s All-Star Game, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook scored 12 points.
Russell Westbrook put up 23 shots on his way to his second-straight MVP.
“It feels so good to be able to speak to them about the game and to be able to share some of the knowledge that I have learned throughout my career to them so that they can carry on the tradition of the National Basketball Association and hopefully play 20 years themselves”.
Kyle Lowry of the Raptors had 14 points and 10 assists while Raptors teammate DeMar DeRozan had 18 points. Please note that comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language and will be removed accordingly. Players, including George, the Clippers’ Chris Paul and James (“I salute you, brother”) offered personal praise and thanks. The West put up the most points in a first half (92), the most points in any half (104 in the second, breaking the new record set in the first half), the most three-pointers made (31) and attempted (149), the most field goals made (82) and attempted (149).
Stephen Curry delivered one of the signature moments of the All-Star Game when he drained a shot from near half court in the closing seconds of the game.
Every player who participated in the game scored, which seems flawless considering the records set Sunday night.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had at an all-star game just because of the predominant group of the young talented kids coming up like the new stars and watching them interact with each other was a thrill for me”, said the veteran San Antonio Spurs coach.
Bryant will retire from the National Basketball Association at the conclusion of his 20th professional season, and James lamented the opportunity to play in one final All-Star Game against him as being bittersweet. Westbrook completed the task within the first six minutes, slamming in a one-hander off a nice transition bounce pass from Kobe and then completing a two-hand alley-oop off a Durant lob.
But the stats don’t matter, the game – and much of the weekend, actually – was about Bryant, his contributions to the sport, his impending retirement and his storied all-star career.
The All-Star Game has never featured much defense, but there are usually a few minutes here and there where everyone turns it on for the sake of the viewing public.
Regardless of what people might go and try to say about Kobe Bryant, there is absolutely no denying that he handled his final All-Star appearance with class.
“Me and him are now like best friends, me and Stuff”, Gordon said.
Nine players from the West scored in double figures with five getting at least 23 in the game.
“He goes out the way he wants to go out”, Jordan told TNT’s Craig Sager.
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Robertson got the award from fellow Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns – the newly crowned skills challenge victor at All-Star weekend.
