Kobe Bryant Plays His Final NBA Game After a lengthy farewell tour across the country and tons of hate from hecklers and well-wishes from dedicated fans , Kobe Bryant finally hit the court for the very last time as a professional NBA player — going out in truly grand style. Via LA Times : Bryant, 37, played the final game of his 20-year career Wednesday, ending an era with five championships, 18 All-Star game appearances and way too many outsiders’ opinions, pro or con, to ever tally. His 1,556th and last box score showed a stunning 60 points on 22-for-50 shooting in a 101-96 Lakers victory over the Utah Jazz. It was chaotic, it was beyond memorable, it was so very Bryant. The raucous crowd couldn’t care less about the final score, cheering with piercing volume every time Bryant scored during his 42 minutes. “Man!” he exclaimed after the game when handed a microphone at midcourt. “I can’t believe how fast 20 years went by. This is crazy. This is absolutely crazy. “We’ve been through our ups and we’ve been through our downs. I think the most important part is that we stayed together throughout.” As a goodbye gift, the Lakers gave Bryant a championship-like ring with five large diamonds on it (one for each title he won) and 20 smaller diamonds (one for each of his playing years). They gave the same ring to his wife, Vanessa, who sat across from the Lakers’ bench along with the couple’s two daughters. Great sendoff for an NBA legend! Will YOU miss Kobe on the court?? WENN
Original post:
Mamba Out: Kobe Bryant Leaves The Game For Good, Thanks Fans After Scoring 60 Points In Last NBA Game
