In Young’s exit interview Thursday, he said that the Lakers lined up in the locker room to get Kobe’s autograph, but Bryant wouldn’t sign Swaggy P’s Adidas sneakers. Though it would seem unlikely to see Kobe doing a post game analysis, one thing is sure, TNT would love to have him in their team that will stretch until the NBA Finals slated in June. But the evening was all about Bryant and his farewell generated an atmosphere of “excitement crackling in Staples Center for the kind of A-list party the Lakers haven’t been able to host for years”, says Mark Heisler of the LA Daily News.
Advertisement
Aside from the retiring players whom left with championship endings, Bryant’s final career game was the best way a player could go out.
Kobe Bryant waves to the crowd as he is taken out of the game after scoring 60 points in his final game played against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center, April 13, 2016, in Los Angeles, California.
As expected, Bryant got the ball early and often. I’m like dude, you tube it, you know what I mean. He said, “I can’t believe how fast 20 years went by, man, this is insane”.
What’s incredible is how the Lakers fed Bryant constantly, and how in the end, they needed this kind of performance from Bryant to beat the Jazz.
The Lakers won only 17 games and lost 65, the worst season in their LA history.
About 25 of Bryant’s former teammates were at the game, including a Hall of Famer (Shaquille O’Neal), noteworthy ex-champions (Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher) and plenty of others (Chris Mihm, DJ Mbenga, Adam Morrison and Mike Penberthy). He made some tough ss, too.
Advertisement
Kobe Bryant, of course, is now retired after his 20 National Basketball Association seasons and is free to do anything he pleases him.
