Kobe Bryant will always remember the NBA world as one of the best players of his time. The five-time champion is already working on his next legend.
There he was all of a sudden.
Kobe Bryant strolled in a good mood and relaxed into the Staples Center, carrying the family in tow or in front of him, and finally pushing the pram with his youngest daughter Bianka himself. In front of the hall Bryant was even allowed to inspect a specially built theme park – “Kobeland” of course – and now Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka welcomed him.
Kobe returned to the place that had been his living room for many years. The hall in which he created his own legend, a myth that will endure for a long time to come. The franchise, where he went from 18-year-old highflyer to five-time champion and occasionally best player of the NBA and later to her crazy uncle.
Or to their godfather. There is probably no NBA team where several players don’t call Kobe their idol, the one they looked up to and looked up. Many superstars still seek advice from James Harden and Kyrie Irving. And even among the legends that came before him, few players enjoy as much respect as he did.
His influence can be seen in almost every game, even though Kobe’s style (and especially the choice of casts) is no longer as en vogue as it was in 1996 when he joined the league. Today’s standard is set by the Warriors, who were guests at Kobe’s retirement ceremony, with their incredibly fast-paced and fun-fitting game, but even with them the “Mamba mentality” is noticeable, with Draymond Green’s fire, but also with Kevin Durant’s scoring from isolation.
Somehow it was fitting that the game had a finish during the night – only a minor matter, of course – that actually screamed for Kobe. The Warriors missed it despite a 5-point lead 1:08 minutes before the end to close the bag: First Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a threesome, then Brandon Ingram made up for it with a driving layup. Kevin Durant failed by threesome, then there were 5 seconds left on the clock when the Lakers were back in possession.
For many years there would have been no doubt in Los Angeles who should get the ball. Bryant met more game winners than anyone else (he also tried more, but still) and in view of the previous show in Los Angeles no one would have been really surprised if coach Luke Walton had taken a break and replaced Kobe, perhaps in a suit, retired or not.
It turned out differently. KCP dribbled forward and threw an airball, in the following overtime Durant (36 points, 10/29 FG, KOBE!) brought the Warriors victory home. Kobe? He wasn’t there at the time. When the regular season came to an end, Bryant and his crowd parted with a thunderous applause and left the hall.
Somehow paradoxical: For more than two decades Kobe was someone who had tied viewers to the screen or to their seats in the hall all over the world, because you never knew what he would be able to do next, and because you could never copy a game as long as Kobe Bean was there. Now, Kobe Bean left the hall to escape the traffic and put the children to bed.
Bryant seems to have made the jump from the NBA circus with little difficulty – which has been questioned before:”I’ve been approached by many former players who were seriously concerned and asked:’ Will you be able to do it?’, Bryant said.” I told them that I would be able to do it.”
But not everyone believed him:”They said:’ It is a process. In the first week you experience a serious depressive phase. You get angry the second week. And in the third, something like acceptance is beginning to take hold.”What the hell?”
Bryant seems like he hasn’t really lived through these phases. The man is busy with the education of his children and various business interests, with his short film “Dear Basketball” he has even been nominated for an Oscar. Even though he still feels visibly comfortable in the spotlight, he doesn’t really seem to miss it.
“The thing about sport is that chapters come and go, whether you like it or not,”said Bryant himself. He was referring to the Lakers, who, despite their promising talents, are currently showing another weak 10-18 record. But he might as well have talked about himself.
Alone with his NBA career you can fill several books, but for him these are all just chapters of a bigger story. Since his resignation, he has repeatedly emphasized that at the end of his life he does not want to be remembered only for what he has achieved in basketball court.
Of course, Bryant has a lot of work ahead of him in order to keep up with it off the field. Just the fact that there is a passionate (!) debate about whether the 8th or the 24th was better shows his exceptional status. Kobe was not by far the favorite of all, to whom he has been stylized since his farewell tour, but he was universally respected.
If you work hard enough, dreams will come true,”Bryant explained at the end of his speech before saying goodbye to” Mamba Out “as he did in his last game.
Mamba Out, indeed. Now Mr. Bryant’s turn.