For nearly three hours in front of a Staples Center crowd that screamed and chanted every time he touched the ball, Kobe Bryant played the last game of his 20-year career like it was his first, leaving fans hoarse and numb while leading his Lakers to a 101-96 comeback victory over the Utah Jazz. He was putting on a show for fans who had paid thousands for their tickets.
Kobe Bryant just wouldn’t quit. He shot. He shot some more. He kept shooting. Shots from the courtside seats, from underneath the basket, on wild drives, off crazy dribbles, back to the basket, feet in the air, hands in his face, shooting forever.
Then, after the game ended, he stepped back on the court and addressed the crowd with all the wonder that had just been witnessed. “Man!” he shouted into the microphone, pausing for another roar. He added, “You know I can’t believe how fast 20 years went by, this is crazy, this is absolutely crazy. We’ve been though our ups and been through our downs, the most important part is that we all stayed together throughout. To spend 20 years here, you can’t write something better than this.”
“The thing that had me cracking up all night long, I go through 20 years of everybody screaming for me to pass the ball and the last night they’re like, don’t pass it,” Bryant shouted to a laughing crowd. He finished by saying, “God, I love you guys.”
And, then, of course, “What can I say? Mamba out!” Bye champ….
