After playing 1346 Regular season games and over 220 playoff games, one might get a little tired. Not Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers legend had what many think to be perhaps the best final game of their career. But if you ask the Mamba himself, he would tell you he preferred a different outcome.
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One that involved going out in a blaze of glory. A final hurrah if you will. Bryant was a winner through and through. Sure, in his final game, he did win and he even dropped a stunning 60-points during that game, more on that later.
However, he would have liked to win the coveted Larry O’Brien, just one more time. Such was the drive that Bryant had.
“Perfect Ending Would Have Been a Championship”: Kobe Bryant’s unquenchable thirst to win was evident in his final game
Just watch the clip below. Not only will you see the sadness in Kobe’s eyes but you will also see the desire and hunger. While it may just be embers, winning is a trait that Bryant embodies very well.
Kobe even talks about the nerves getting to him. After all, when you are saying goodbye, emotions will tend to well up and it can be a little hard to overcome them.
Bryant’s final game was enough to lure in the greats of the game. Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and even celebrities like Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, and David Beckham were part of the attendees’ list.
How Bryant’s farewell was a show for the ages
Kobe Bryant’s 60-point performance during his final game on April 13, 2016, at home, the Staples Center in Los Angeles, will forever be remembered as one of the greatest farewells in sports history. Everyone expected him to show out but to do that in such a manner was incredible.
The 37-year-old wowed the crowd with an unforgettable performance and led the Lakers to a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. Despite playing through injuries and facing double teams, Bryant showcased his signature fadeaway jumper and fearless attitude, scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter alone. He outscored Utah’s entire team in the quarter.
It marked the end of an era, as one of the greatest players in NBA history bid farewell to the sport he loved with a historic performance.
