Kevin Durant scored 34 points and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double by halftime to help the Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-79 on Monday night in the final road game of Bryant’s 20-year career.
Advertisement
This meeting between the two Western Conference teams will be highly anticipated as this marks the final time that Kobe Bryant will ever play a competitive game in the league.
The Los Angeles Lakers sent Kobe off with a victory in a 101-96 emotional win, including a go-ahead bucket from Bryant to seal one of the most incredible performances of his career.
He has appeared in 18 All-Star games, was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2007-08 regular season and landed MVP honors in the 2009 and 2010 Finals when he led the Lakers to consecutive championships.
“I think the most important part is that we all stayed together throughout”, Bryant said to the crowd.
Bryant has had a great career but a bad season.
Lakers head coach Byron Scott said he didn’t consider putting Bryant back in the game for a curtain call, instead looking ahead to Los Angeles.
“Kobe Bryant is Los Angeles”, said Hernandez, who wore Bryant’s high school jersey from Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania.
They came to pay tribute, the rich and famous in their courtside seats and the less affluent up high in the rafters of Staples Center.
Has it really been 20 years?
“Honestly [I just came] to buy a Lakers jersey, Kobe Bryant after 20 seasons, you know, I wanted to have a reminder of Kobe, his last game”, added another fan, Giovanni Mendoza. I’m like every LA fan, I believe, he’s been number 1, he’s been on the grind, he’s got five championships, I’m just proud of him. I’ve been very thankful about everything, been very happy about everything.
And with sweat and confetti all over his gold uniform for the final time, he expressed humble thanks to his fans and family for their loving support over two decades. Kobe and the LA Lakers are playing the Utah Jazz on ESPN2, while the Golden State Warriors will play the Memphis Grizzlies on ESPN. “It’s great when you meet your idol and it’s a great experience and hopefully, in the future I’ll be able to talk to him some more”, Bryant said.
“I do remember Dirk coming to me and saying, “If you can trade me for Kobe, you’ve gotta do it”, Cuban said.
Advertisement
Even the leader of the free world can’t wait for the incredible slate of National Basketball Association games Wednesday night.
