'Mamba out': Kobe Bryant goes out in full glory, brings 20-year NBA career to resounding close
Wednesday night Kobe Bryant played the final game of his 20-season NBA career in a blaze of glory against the Jazz, taking 50 shots---the most any player has ever done on the NBA---and scoring 60 points in an amazing comeback for his team after a disappointing start of season, making the annals of NBA history for a sixth 60-point game in his career as well as the most points racked up by a player on a final regular-season game. He moved his team up to a 101-96 win, outscoring the Utah team all by himself 23-21 in the fourth quarter of the game, closing it with 4.1 seconds to spare.
In his farewell speech, the two-time Olympic gold medalist laughed as he remembered, "What's funny---the thing that had me cracking up all night long---the fact that I go through 20 years of everybody screaming to pass the ball, and then the last night they're like, 'Don't pass it!'"
Bryant and his wife Vanessa were presented by Lakers president Jeanie Buss with special retirement rings before the game. And during his farewell speech, Bryant said he could not believe that 20 years had passed. The 18-time All-Star player thanked his fans and teammates, saying that, through their ups and downs, their team had stuck together, which had been the important thing.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Despite Wednesday's win, the final game constituted a 17-65 in what would be the worst season for the team. But, still sticking together in their last game with him, the Lakers team gave their fans what was an appropriate backdrop to the end of Bryant's brilliant career, an unexpected but thunderous win in his 1,346th game.
At intervals throughout the game, video tributes had been flashed on the big screen of the Staples Center, featuring message from Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Durant, Gregg Popovich, Derek Fisher, and Stephen Curry. Others also offering encouraging words were Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett, Phil Jackson, and Lamar Odom. Even Jack Nicholson, who is a die-hard Lakers fan, shared his message to Bryant.
Nicholson told Bryant on video, "It's been great watching you … You've been an inspiration to us all, and L.A. loves you."
Bryant had been drafted by the Charlotte team in 1996 and later traded to the Lakers where he has spent the rest of his career. He was named NBA MVP in 2008 and had been the Finals MVP for two seasons, 2009 and 2010. A two-time scoring champion in 2006 and 2007, he brought his team to five championships in 2000 to 2002, and in 2009 and 2010. He is ranked third as the all-time highest pointer with 33,643 points.
Magic Johnson, another NBA icon, wrote a letter to him for the occasion of the latter's retirement from their favorite game.
"For 20 years, I've watched you dominate the game of basketball … Every night you played, I couldn't wait to watch knowing that I would witness an unbelievable shot or move that I had never seen on the court."
Johnson went on to laud Bryant, complimenting the latter on his skills and energy whenever he played in his purple and gold. He pointed out that Bryant never disappointed his fans.
"There will never be another Kobe Bryant," Johnson ended his fitting tribute.
