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Last night, Kobe Bryant made history by having his two jersey numbers retired by the Los Angeles Lakers. It was a fitting nod to his legacy that encompasses 20 years of blood, sweat, and tears.
The Mamba feels were all over the NBA universe in celebration of Bryant's career that spanned two decades. Plenty of trials and success have come by the future Hall of Famer, making it hard to place the entirety of his greatness in a nutshell.
There's no better person to summarize 20 eventful years in the NBA than the Lakers legend himself. According to Los Angeles beat reporter Mike Trudell, Kobe Bryant thinks that his farewell game perfectly encapsulates his career.
Kobe on 60-point finale: "It was a snap shot of the arc of my career, really. The struggles to start. The ebbs and flows throughout the course of the game. Physically being tired but pushing through. That perseverance. The footwork that was there, the fundamentals of the game…"
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 19, 2017
Kobe on 60-point finale cont’d: "But also the emotional strengths to be able to have the inner confidence that this thing will turn around. It’s OK. I don’t care if millions of people are watching, just focus on the thing you love doing because you’re doing it for the last time."
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 19, 2017
The date was April 13, 2016 when Kobe Bryant did the unthinkable as the then-20-year veteran scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz.
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20 years all in 42 minutes of play.
The Lakers were down by as many as 15 points, but Bryant, visibly gassed out and all, willed every last ounce of his energy to torch the Jazz with 23 points in the fourth quarter. Down by five with a minute remaining, Bryant scored seven points and dished out an assist before being called out of the game so he could have his final moment on the hardwood.
In those 42 minutes, Kobe Bryant gave everyone a final glimpse of his relentlessness, competitive nature, and knack for delivering in the clutch — such qualities that shaped his legacy.
The Lakers won 101-96 in a perfect Hollywood ending to the Black Mamba's storied career.
