Last night at Staple Center in Los Angeles, with a sellout crowd, came to see their hero one last time, who is none other than Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant. The viewers watching around the world and thousands in attendance did not think that Kobe would have had his greatest final game ever in his career, putting up an unbelievable 60 point vintage performance for our delight.
Kobe shot an insane 22-of-50 from the field, the most touches by any player, along with 4 assists, even though people told him to “shoot the ball,” which must have been a weird feeling for Kobe.
AT age 37, Kobe showed us that you can do anything you put your mind to, even when things don’t go your way.
Way before Kobe erupted with a 60-point game, he was introduced by his childhood idol, Lakers great Magic Johnson, who gave a heart-felt speech, along with Kobe’s teammates, celebrities, coach, and superstars of today. Magic also gave a heart-felt thanks to Kobe's longtime trainer, Gary Viti.
After the sentiment speeches, Kobe stood up and approached Magic, embracing him with so much love and appreciation for his endless support over the years. Once the pregame rituals are over, it was time for Kobe to switch in game mode and play his last game as a Laker, shaking off any emotions that affected him, to perform for his “loyal” fans one last time.
In the first few minutes of the 1st quarter, Kobe struggled to find his shot, missing 5 straight field goals to start the game. After not feeling himself, he took a moment to re-collect his thoughts so he can focus on the task at hand and finish his last game strong.
To finally push the envelope, he chased down one of the Utah Jazz’ players and blocked him from behind. Then, at the other end of the floor, Kobe went coast-to-coast to score his first shot of the game, signaling the beginning of his scoring dominance that will stand the test of time.
You could hear the fans roar with excitement every time Kobe made a shot, if it’s a lay-up, posting up, driving to the lane, shooting a 3, and making 15-footers with ease. When Kobe’s score got to 40, you know he is in a great rhythm and he didn’t stop there. After returning from a timeout, Kobe still made more shots, even if he is exhausted. When the score got to 50, everyone went on a frenzy, including viewers who watched from the comfort of their home.
Remember last month during an interview with the “TNT” crew on “Inside The NBA,” where Kobe’s former Laker teammate, Shaquille O’Neal (soon to be Hall-Of-Famer), challenged him to score “50” points in his final game and Kobe denied the request? Well, Kobe met Shaq at court-side and accept the challenge, and played as hard as he could. By scoring 60 points, Kobe answered Shaq's request, scoring double the amount he asked for, and gave us a lasting impression we will never forget.
After an exhausted, final game for Kobe, he addressed the fans for the last time and thanked them for their endless support through the years, including his family that he loves so much. Then, in Kobe's last farewell statement, he said "what else can I say? Mamba out!," and dropped the mic.
That is how you end your career. Thankfully, Kobe didn't get hurt or else that would be a "buzz kill."
Kobe’s final game is a testament to many people because of his work ethic and how he approached the game. We can learn a lot from Kobe. I learned that if we can spend a lot of time in a gym or in a career of our choice developing our craft and giving it our all, it will work out for us in the long run, so we wouldn’t have any regrets.
Kobe is the epitome of greatness that transcends a generation.
Man, what a way to go out on top. There will never be another Kobe Bryant.
Kobe will definitely be missed in this league. He will never be forgotten. We wish him well in his next chapter of life after basketball. When it's all said and done, Kobe will always be the “GOAT” in my eyes.
Thank you Kobe for all the memories!!!