Kobe Bryant Discussion: Mamba Out!

Nike made new puppets videos

 

Nike puppets were beyond AWESOME. I know majority here seriously hate Bron but these 2 together would be unstoppable.

 

Yep. Most players don’t have a career legendary enough to warrant two jerseys retired in the rafters especially with a franchise like the Lakers with so many all time greats.

Kobe is one of the very, very select few. He’s an absolute legend in every sense of the word. I’ve said this before, but grew up watching and idolizing the guy as a young kid. He’s THE reason I fell in love with the game of basketball and became a die hard Lakers fan. For that reason I’ll always appreciate and respect him so much.

Tonight is a special night and one well warranted for Kobe. He’s arguably the greatest Laker of them all. Certaintly in the discussion. Countless incredible memories he gave us over the years. All the championships. All the game winners and clutch shots. All the times he played through injury when 99.9 percent of the league sits out. Killing himself to comeback from an Achilles injury.

60 points in his final game at age 37 when he was his last legs. Outscored a Dallas team (that made it to the Finals and really should’ve won the title in 2006) by himself through three quarters. 81 points in a game less than two months later. 50+ in four straight games the next season. Took an awful team to the postseason two years in a row in a brutal West.

Then of course the Pau years. Back to back championships. Being able to bounce back after a brutal loss to Boston in the Finals. Showed the world he could be the guy on a championship team. Was the best player in the world for a decade stretch basically. Was absolutely incredible in those back to back title runs.

Whether it’s that Game 3 @ Denver in the 2009 West Finals scoring 40 points and hitting a huge shot down the stretch. The next year in Phoenix in a close out game hitting ridiculous shot after ridiculous shot to advance to the Finals. Then in the Finals had that incredible in Game 5, but got no help from anyone else.

Facing a 3-2 deficit rallied the troops came out on fire in Game 6. Struggled in Game 7 shooting, but found a way to make some huge plays defensively, 15 rebounds, and the huge assist to Artest for that huge shot with a minute to play.

That Game 7 was a perfect illustration of why Kobe was so great. Yeah we know he’s probably the greatest offensive weapon of all time in the NBA, but he was also an elite defender and playmaker as well as a rebounder when necessary. It didn’t matter what he had to do to win he did whatever it took.

Growing up here in the San Antonio seen Kobe play so many times live in person over the years in some great battles with the Spurs. Everytime I went to see him play I never left disappointed. He always put on a show. Always entertained. Always put his best foot forth. Didn’t always have a great shooting night, but always competed his a** off. More often then not when it came down to the wire Kobe came through.

Kobe will always be my favorite player. Ever. Nobody will ever replace him in my book. As a little kid growing up athletes aren’t usually the best role models, but Kobe was because he overcame so much professionally and personally. He rose above every challenge that came his way. Never made excuses. He simply worked and worked to get better and better.

Coming in as a 17 year old kid. Left as one of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court. Best one to ever wear that purple and gold IMO. The best thing I can say is he got everything out of his career that he could. He did everything he could’ve done. There wasn’t anything left in the tank. No untapped or unfulfilled potential. That’s why he’s Kobe.

 

Those old Nike puppets hold fond memories as they were shown during the back to back championship years. Good times.

 

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/ice-cube-kobe-bryant-tribute/

 

If there wasn't a picture, I'd have no idea who signed that.

Dr. Kuzma.

 

Was in the car a little earlier and heard the last 5 minutes of the last quarter of Kobe's last game against Utah being re-broadcast on ESPN radio as called by John Ireland and Mychal Thompson for the first time. Have seen the game numerous times but first time I ever heard the radio version. I got where I had to go and just sat in the car until the game was over. It was so cool to hear that fresh. Got goose bumps a couple times listening to Ireland call what was happening and what he couldn't believe with his own eyes and hearing that crowd in the background again.

I forget .... was anyone here at that game? If so please just a few words again about what that scene was like? Everyone on their feet the last minutes of the game, Nicholson "jumping up and down" on the sideline and Ireland saying he hadn't heard that kind of a crowd since 2010 for the championship game against the C Bags after we pulled close and ahead. Down 10 points with 3 minutes to go in the final game of Kobe's career and he's like at 47 points amazingly and sucking air from the effort. Unbelievable!!!!

 

I wasn't emotional when he announced his retirement but ironically I been a little bit emotional today So weird...

 

Me too, watched that NBA career highlight video. Very nostalgic and emotionally stirring.