It doesn’t seem right that Kobe Bryant was taken from us so soon. My own basketball story has such strong links to the man, all based on that famous final game.
When I first got heavily into the NBA, it was around the time of Kobe Bryant‘s farewell tour. He had a few vintage Kobe games that year but you could tell that his body was struggling. Over 20 years of competing at the highest level, his body had had enough of the grind. In a letter announcing his retirement, he said that his mind was still sharp but his body couldn’t take the beating of NBA basketball anymore.
The NBA that I knew was so inexplicably linked to Kobe. He had been around so long and you almost had a feeling that he would never retire. But he decided to hang the boots up at the end of the 2015/16 season.
This was around the time that I was starting to get into the league really seriously. The last month of his career I watched Laker games on and off, they weren’t my team but it was important to watch the last few games of a bona-fide NBA and sporting legend.
I knew I would watch his final game. In the back of your mind you always want a legend like him to go out on a high. Every wanted a fairy-tale ending for an NBA superstar.
Tuning in and watching the game at a local pub, he struggled early on with his shot but had a few off-ball moments that showed he was locked in as usual.
He then started to crank it up in the second half. The crowd started to roar as Kobe poured in bucket after bucket. This was a seminal moment in my basketball career. It sticks so vividly in my mind how the crowd urged him on. They pushed this 37-year-old future hall of famer to will himself on in his last game.
There was something about NBA basketball that I loved so much. This game was the beginning of a journey that took me to the other end of the world and an eventual change in career to make basketball my life.
The excitement of the crowd when Kobe started to takeover the game was unreal to me. The love for him and the Lakers, in a midst of a losing season, was amazing to watch.
Kobe was in his 1346th NBA game, and was still playing defense. Blocking shots, stripping people, fighting for post position. He was so tough and was showing it all over again in his final game.
Down by 14 points with ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter, I was a little saddened that I would go home with a Laker loss, but Kobe already had 37 points. It was a marvellous farewell performance.
All of a sudden he hit a trail three and it was a nine-point game. Kobe had already played so many minutes and was meant to be limited to 36 minutes max. Surely he couldn’t drag the Lakers to a win?
Kobe swapped threes with the Jazz again. Still a nine-point game. Some inspired play by his teammates brought it back to a five-point game. I was hyped. Jazz timeout. On the bench though, he looked so spent. I was surprised he was running at all. He looked completely exhausted.
He was back on the court after the timeout though. Kobe with the ball on the baseline, great penetration then a pass to Jordan Clarkson. Three-point game. Kobe traded twos back and forth with the Jazz but then three straight misses took it out to a ten point game with 2:16 left in the game.
Kobe had an amazing 45-point game, but I had again given up on a Laker win. Kobe hadn’t given up though. He stopped the clock for a pair of free throws, then a Laker stop was followed by a quick two, this gave him 51 points. Staples was pumping. Six-point game.
No player had ever ended their career with a fifty-point game. A Jazz travel call was followed by a Kobe memento, a mid-range pull-up two pointer. Nothing but net. This was something else. Kobe was putting the Lakers on his back once again. Four-point game. I was beside myself at this point.
A Gordon Hayward miss was then followed by another classic Kobe pull-up, nothing but net. This time a three-pointer. I had never really loved the Lakers or Kobe but this was something else. I was mesmerized by the whole experience. The arena, Kobe and his final game. One-point game, timeout.
It was saddening re-watching this final game today and seeing how amazed and happy his family were at this final performance, but later on, this will be a memories they will cherish.
The Lakers down by one, Kobe with the ball at half-court, 38 seconds on the clock. He goes left then right, then pulls up for a tough deep two. Nails it. Pandemonium.
Kanye West, David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal, Snoop Dogg, all in the house to see Kobe. It seemed like everyone was shocked by this comeback. But not Kobe, he had done this umpteen times before. He was just being Kobe.
I was hooked. One final dagger in his opponents hearts. The ultimate competitor was going out on a high. A Laker stop and Kobe was going to the line for a 60-point game. We all knew he was hitting both free throws.
The Lakers win of course.
I drove back home in a slight daze. This indelible final performance had me so pumped. The beauty and drama of NBA basketball was truly etched in my mind for the first time.
Kobe had 23 points in the fourth quarter. Including 15 straight at the end. I re-watched the final two minutes over and over. This began an obsession that has only intensified with time.
I love the game of basketball in so many ways, and I thank Kobe for his part in this. It is with a tear in my eye that I write this, re-watching his final game was so powerful but also so sad. Thank you Kobe. May you Rest in Peace.