Kobe did it with an iron will, playing the part of the “Black Mamba” one last time. He hit another with 31 seconds to play, putting the Lakers ahead 97-96. We saw a lot of that version of Kobe during the transition years from 2004 to 2007, the years where the Lakers were rebuilding and Bryant was in his physical prime at 27 years old.
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This isn’t the only record Kobe broke in his career in the National Basketball Association.
Nearly game time. The Lakers and Jazz were set to tip off at 10:30 p.m. ET. Fans were going wild. Though drenched in sweat, Bryant was only slightly out of breath after the awesome exhibition.
The game was played on a court designed with both of Bryant’s numbers, eight and 24, for the future Hall of Famer to play on.
First things first, I’ve never been a huge Kobe Bryant fan. There were times where I drove to the basket and my legs were just like, ‘What, are you nuts?’ I just throw the ball up and it goes in, like: “‘Thank god'”. What can I say?
Bryant didn’t disappoint a single one of them.
Huge roars then rang out as the Lakers fans gave Bryant thunderous approval.
“But, nothing supersedes the game”. The Mamba stayed on the court for hours following the game at the Staple’s center.
Kobe Bryant wistfully explained that he loved to play, wanted to play. Coach Byron Scott made it clear early on that Kobe would play around 35 minutes, including the entire first and third quarters, and the second half of the second and fourth quarters.
But the biggest celebration was saved for in front of the Lakers’ home crowd as he called time on a 20-year career in stunning fashion.
“That’s just the flawless ending to his career”.
NBA Legend, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers hug after Bryant’s final game, April 13, 2016, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. He’s ready for change, though it is hard to imagine him far away from the hardwood.
“All I can do is thank you all of you guys for inspiration and motivation”. “I had a little bit of nerves, but they were able to settle down”.
The overnight ratings for the Golden State Warriors 73rd win, the most wins in National Basketball Association history, edged out the final game of one of the NBA’s best known players of the last 20 years, Kobe Bryant.
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And only the great Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962 tops Bryant’s 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
