Kobe’s Farewell

Before the season began, everyone knew this was going to be Kobe Bryant’s last year. In every city he played in, he was celebrated by fans of the opposing teams, former teammates, and coaches alike. In every game, the television cameras were glued to him, watching every rebound and shot he made. Everyone was looking to catch their last memories and glimpses of Kobe before he rode off into the sunset. In his final game ever, at home in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Bryant did the unthinkable and dropped 60 points on the Utah Jazz. He finished that game shooting 44% from the field, which by NBA standards isn’t too bad.

However, throughout the entire season, Bryant shot poorly from the field and would eventually come to the bench late in games depleted and drained. Yet, his finale was quite the opposite. The pregame festivities included highlights of his illustrious 20-year career with the Lakers and a video featuring former teammates, NBA legends, and celebrities all showing their appreciation for him. In the end, Kobe is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the numbers speak for themselves. In total, Kobe has amassed 5 NBA Championships, 18 NBA All-Star Game appearances, 2 NBA Finals MVP trophies, 4 NBA All-Star Game MVP trophies, 2 NBA scoring championships, and is the Lakers all-time leading scorer. Love him or hate him, Kobe Bryant is the definition of a true NBA superstar and he went out on top.