Utah had gone ahead by nine points in the final quarter (66-75). Kobe, staggering and visibly tired, looked ready to leave the camp and take a well-deserved ovation. But he did not want to end like this, one of the greatest champions in the history of the game wanted to go out giving another memorable enterprise. The rest is already a legend: 23 points in the last quarter result of 8/16 from the field, including a triple off balance that gave the advantage to the Staples seething and many fans who do not holding back the tears with emotion.
legend – For the sixth time in his career he wrote 60 champion Lakers on his box store, 122nd time more than 40 points, 25th over 50. These numbers are scary, but disappear in front of the smile with which it occurs in the press room. “The best thing – says Kobe amused – is that finally my daughters saw me play at my level. I never imagined an ending so, are still in shock. ” Relaxed, still with the 24 on him ( “the strangest thing of all will be sfilarmela for the last time,” he says seriously), always emerges in him the will to win that has animated for these 20 years. “The perfect end of my career was winning the title, the game tonight I was mainly trying to play like I knew and give the fans the most beautiful show possible.”
Race 7 – This goodbye it was like a race-7, maybe more for the emotional transport. Bryant has his explanation: “Many people have asked me if I felt the same emotions of victory over Boston in the race-7 (for the 2010 title, n.d.r. ). E ‘was different, because six years ago I felt the tension in the field, I saw that the fans were suffering and did not trust to rejoice before the final siren. Tonight was different, a party from the first minute and in the field was felt that feeling. ” It means that the beginning was not easy, the result of a 0/5 betraying nervousness, then a burst of nine consecutive points and the pace continued: “There were so many times when I got excited when I ran on the pitch out of the tunnel for the last time, when I wore the uniform … I could not let influenced by these things, I would have had time to think over the next few days, today I had to win and play well. And so I did. ”
evening – The evening at Staples has been a long glorious tribute from many of his former comrades who came to greet him, with Shaq the side of the bench and Lamar Odom a couple of rows behind, to videos that ran every time out with sports personalities, film, music that turned their own personal “Thank Kobe.” Bryant was the king of Los Angeles for 20 years, the face of a particular franchise in an environment where if you win you’re recognized and the most beautiful words came from his idol. “Magic said they are the greatest Lakers of all time: I refuse to accept this compliment because he was my hero.” Sighs a moment, review with the mind his words and then adds: “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Lakers as a child, I knew all the players who have worn this shirt, I was a child in Italy, and for me to be here today after this career is a unique honor. ”
TOMORROW – No returns will be in the field, there will be no room to still see the 24 on his shoulders. But the daily routine will not suffer shocks. “Tomorrow morning I get up and I go to train – he says without problems -. I can not stop, my body is not used, do not change anything, I have to find a new routine but I can not help but have a goal in front. “Let one of the largest, probably only Jordan before him, and no man. Italy is always in his heart and will never forget: “I will have more time in front of me, I will return to Italy to help the kids and teach basketball.” Mamba out. Kobe Thank you.
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