Thursday, 14 April 2016

Kobe Bryant Retires with 60 Points, Given Star Studded Farewell

Image result for kobe bryant retires with 60 points

In his final NBA game Wednesday night, Kobe Bryant scored 60 points — helping the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Utah Jazz, 101-96. He scored 23 points in the final quarter.
Taken 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 draft, Bryant was then traded to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Jack, Jay Z, Kanye West, David Beckham, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Adam Levine and wife Behati Prinsloo and The Weeknd, were in attendace

Prior to the game, a tribute video was played which featured many of Kobe's teammates old and new, including Lamar. The footage marked the first time Lamar has been seen speaking publicly since his health battle last year (15) after being found unconscious in a Las Vegas brothel.
Using his former teammate's middle name, Lamar said in the video: "Bean what's up, it's your little brother L.O. Just want to tell you I love you. You got a great career. I'm proud to say that I was right there with you, Kobe Bean."      Image result for jay z, kanye and lamar odom attends kobe bryant retires with 60 points
Avid Lakers fan Jack also appeared in the video, saying: "You've been an inspiration to us all, and L.A. loves you."
Kanye paid tribute to Kobe in his own unique way, sporting a long-sleeved shirt which featured several words on the back, including the date of the sportsman's final game and "Lower Merion's finest" - a reference to Kobe's start in basketball at Lower Merion High School in Jersey.                                                                    Image result for jay z, kanye and lamar odom attends kobe bryant retires with 60 points  Image result for jay z, kanye and lamar odom attends kobe bryant retires with 60 points
Jay Z posed for a snap with Kendrick and fellow rapper Schoolboy courtside before the game, which saw the Lakers take on Utah Jazz.
Those who couldn't attend the game but voiced their support for Kobe in his final game included U.S. President Barack Obama, who wrote on Twitter: "Big night of basketball - @Warriors chasing 73 and a farewell for an all-timer, @KobeBryant."
Reese Witherspoon referenced Kobe's nickname "Black Mamba" by writing: "Who's gonna be watching @kobebryant tonight? #Icon #MambaDay #WeWillMissYou."
Beckham was present to watch the game, but also wrote some touching words on Instagram about Kobe alongside a snap of the pair together. He wrote" "Tonight will be full of emotions , happy ones & and sad ones but we celebrate the career of one the games greatest players and a true LAKER ... It's been an honor watching this man win championships and to have done it in style just the way this city expects... Easier said than done... Congrats my friend on a career that many people dream of.... @lakers @kobebryant @lagalaxy."
Retired American professional basketball player Magic Johnson also penned an open tribute letter to Kobe ahead of the game, writing: "You will join a legendary list of Laker greats and Hall of Famers. Their jerseys hang proudly from the rafters in Staples Center and soon yours will shine next to them; from Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy and Shaquille O'Neal.
"Very few people have changed the game of basketball but you will be recognized as one of them alongside my 'Dream Team' teammates, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.
 Number of seasons in the NBA
Image result for kobe bryant retires with 60 points
"Playing 20 seasons in any professional sport is rare,"ESPN writes. "Playing 20 seasons for just one team? Now that's an exclusive club." It adds that in the last 20 years, only 11 players from the four major U.S. professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL) have played with the same team.
5 - NBA championship rings
Teaming up with another Lakers legend, Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant won three consecutive titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He won another two in 2009 and 2010.
2 - Daughters
Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have two daughters, Natalia, 13, and Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, 9.
1 - NBA MVP award
Bryant won the league's Most Valuable Player award for the 2007-08 season, beating Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Dwight Howard.
2 - Olympic gold medals
Bryant has been on five U.S. national basketball teams, helping lead them to gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
18 - All-star selections
In his 20 seasons, Bryant was selected for the all-star game every year except in his rookie season and in the 1998-99 season when the all-star game was cancelled because of an NBA lockout.
1 - Poem announcing his retirement
When Bryant announced his retirement in November 2015, it wasn't a shock. The 37-year-old tore his Achilles tendon at the end of the 2013 season and spent much of the next season recovering. When he came back, he injured his knee and then tore his rotator cuff, which required surgery. While the announcement, wasn't unexpected, the form in which he delivered it certainly was. He wrote a poem, called "Dear Basketball" in the Players' Tribune website, which begins like this:
"Dear Basketball,
From the moment
I started rolling my dad's tube socks
And shooting imaginary
Game-winning shots
In the Great Western Forum
I knew one thing was real:
I fell in love with you."
33,583 - Points scored in his career (so far)
In 2014, Bryant surpassed Michael Jordan for third on the all-time scoring list. Heranks behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928). In 2005-06, Bryant dropped 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points scored in a single NBA game behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.
1 - Rape case
In 2003, a 19-year-old woman accused Bryant of raping her and he was charged with sexual assault and false imprisonment. The criminal charges were later dropped because the accuser, who faced intense scrutiny in the press, said she would not testify in court. Bryant settled a civil suit with the woman for an undisclosed amount and issued a public apology as part of the deal. His statement read, in part, "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."
This is the Cliffs-notes version of the story. For a thorough recounting of the accusations, fallout and litigation, read The Daily Beast's recent story called "Kobe Bryant's Black Mark."

No comments:

Post a Comment