Apr 12, 2016 Also about the achilles.. With 3:08 to play in the fourth quarter and the Warriors leading by two, Bryant, in his 45th minute of the night, drives against Barnes -- and collapses. Bryant feels a sensation in the back of his left foot. "Did you kick me?" he asks Barnes. Barnes says no. "F---!" Bryant says. Teammates surround him. He can feel his Achilles roll up his leg. And then he does the most Kobe Bryant thing ever. Using his fingers, Bryant tries to pull the tendon back down. He's definitely crazy lol.
Apr 12, 2016 What I just posted to my facebook if anyone cares lol, my Kobe story I guess you could say. This is gonna be long...In 2002 my dad took me to a Lakers/Timberwolves game, I had lost interest in basketball for a year or so before this and wasn't really a fan. But on that day I became a Lakers fan because of Kobe Bryant and have been a Lakers and Kobe fan ever since. The Lakers lost on this night and Kobe didn't have his best game, but I saw how passionate he was and how he wouldn't give up, I didn't know I was becoming a fan at the time but I was intrigued enough to keep watching him for a bit. 14 years later and I've watched at least 90% of his games since then. On TV I watched him win championships, drop 81 points, outscore the mavs by himself through 3 quarters, have stretches where he's just absolutely on fire (ex:18/24 including 11 in a row, 42 in a half vs. MJ, etc). In person I've seen him hit a game winner in Milwaukee, drop 47 points in his last full game before he got injured and was never the same, maybe his best dunk ever, 8 playoff games (including an NBA finals game) and about 20 to 25 games overall. Once he's gone I doubt we ever see anyone else in the NBA with that competitive nature, toughness and killer instinct. I remember having tickets to a Lakers game a week away and Kobe messed up his shoulder pretty bad and was supposed to be out 4-6 weeks, I thought there was no chance he'd play in the game I saw. He missed a game or 2 and was back out there looking like his usual self, Kobe did this kind of stuff routinely throughout his career. Tomorrow night it all comes to an end and even though it took a majority of my tax refund, I wanted to and will be there live one more time. Basketball will never be the same to me and this will truly be a sad moment. Thank you Kobe for all your hard work and the great moments, it was an honor to watch you all these years.
Apr 12, 2016 Saw someone say this earlier in the week..There won't even be another Michael Jordan, but there probably won't be another Kobe Bryant either.
Apr 12, 2016 Yeah it sounds kinda cliche or whatever but I really think it's most likely gonna be true, players these days are a little softer in general. It's hard to imagine someone coming along with that relentless passion Kobe has, but it's certainly not impossible. I hope someone like that does come along again, doesn't even need to be as elite as Kobe of course but just seeing that kind of passion and killer instinct again would be nice.
Apr 12, 2016 Westbrook is the only one that comes to mind as like the complete Kobe package. I'd throw KD & Dame in there as well.
Apr 12, 2016 Exactly what I was going to say. I can't say he's on the same level but he's definitely the closest we'll ever see again. I feel KD is the same way to an extent. Players are just different now, though. Everybody is so g.d.'d friendly. The days of NBA players with mean streaks are long gone.
Apr 12, 2016 I'll always remember Kobe killing my dads Kings and destroying their playoff hopes. Then the memories of my father getting wasted and screaming "f--- Kobe!!" I'll miss the Black Mamba.
Apr 12, 2016 I feel like Draymond Green has that mean streak about him. He's the heart and soul of that Warriors team at the moment.
Apr 13, 2016 Lakers will have both 8 & 24 on the court tomorrow. Yeah sad to say but that era basically ends with Kobe tomorrow night. I think he's gonna have a big game. @Kon can't believe you're going.
Apr 13, 2016 I can't believe it either. Can't wait to get off work in about 4 hours, go home pack a few things and head to the airport. Gonna be the craziest sporting event I've ever been at, that's for sure. Not expecting Kobe to do great or anything but really hope it's not one of those 2/14 type of nights. Id be happy with like a 5/19 game and some vintage plays. But honestly even if he totally sucks it up, it'll still be an incredible night. It'd be nice if the Lakers could make it a competive game but that won't be easy, they lost to Utah by like 50 last time lol. Jazz may have nothing to play for if the rockets win their game which is 2 and a half hours before the Lakers game. Oh and I almost forgot to say that 8 and 24 on the court is f---in bad a---, love it.
Apr 13, 2016 Gonna be a great night for the NBA. Probably the most exciting/emotional last night in the regular season in years. (at least for me) Gonna be watching the Warriors going for 73 on one TV, and Kobe on the other.
