Bryant visited the team that drafted him, Charlotte, in the middle of this three-game road trip and scored 20 points on 5-of-20 shooting in a 108-98 loss. I can’t go through this.
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That didn’t last too long.
“The Celtics have done so much for me”, said Bass, who signed a two-year deal last summer with the Lakers.
It was both nauseating and nice.
Afterward, Celtics players lined up to hug him. “It’s quite a compliment”, Bryant said. From the signing of the songs, the shaking of the bus going back to the hotel, that stuff really stuck with me. “I’ve always loved it. It’s a little weird, isn’t it?”
So which Finals matchup stands out more for Bryant?
That’s classic Bryant, isn’t it? While the Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the current generation didn’t have the longevity of the Magic-Bird era or the days of Jerry West and Bill Russell, it certainly had its own thrills with Kobe being right at the center of it all. “They have really talented individuals, especially perimeter players”.
Bryant will retire after this season, his 20th in the National Basketball Association. “Their roster was a mixture of young players, veteran players, nasty, tough players. When it’s all said and done, I’m sure we’ll get together and kind of reminisce on old times”. “I want them to be able to see that”. In his final game in Boston, he seemed destined for an even worse evening, starting 2-of-12 from the field, but he salvaged a 5-for-18 effort ‘ tied for the sixth-worst shooting effort of his career against the Celtics. But it’s going to happen again.
Bryant was the 13th overall pick during that year coming out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia. He recalled sitting there with teammates and, believe it or not, laughing.
Many reporters, columnists, and bloggers have given you their take on Kobe Bryant’s retirement.
“The loss led to the win”, Bryant said. It helped me find the best version of myself.
“It’s always cool when I come here”, he said.
During those series, Bryant fiercely competed against Paul Pierce. I showed her the video of us losing to the Celtics (in the 2008 finals) and me walking off the court crying.
In a season like this, you’ve got to celebrate when you can. I can’t stress that enough, which is why I wanted my kids here. “It’s just a different green”. Bryant had played in Boston plenty of times including the NBA Finals on two separate occasions but never again will he likely set foot into the TD Garden. His struggling Lakers had earned a rare win, holding off a late Celtics charge.
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“I can play whatever, man. You can put me at point guard”. “It’s a mutual respect that we have for each other because we’ve been through so many battles”. His second thought: “I can’t mess this up”.
