Nov 30, 2015 Here's his press conference from SC last night for those who missed it. I always knew this day was coming, but deep down I always thought he'd somehow avoid father time and leave the game gracefully. And I guess that's one of the lasting memories we'll have of Kobe. Not just being able to defy all odds & expectations, but his ability to make us believe he could no matter the circumstances.
Nov 30, 2015 Also I just saw Dwights quote about Kobe a few posts up, the fact that he laughed and couldn't think of anything when asked what he learned from Kobe basically summarizes Howard's biggest issue and why he will probably never win a ring. He's a clown and likes to have fun and can't become as serious and dedicated as he needs to be to get it done. Very talented player but doesn't have the right mind set, he should have learned a lot from Kobe's work ethic like so many others did.
Nov 30, 2015 Exactly. He had some nice things to say about him, but I honestly wasn't surprised to hear him respond that way. Let's not forget Kobe was the 1st person to baptize Dwight into the NBA. @Nori
Nov 30, 2015 You asked for my hustle I gave you my heart Kobe really has me in my feelings with this poem. It's like a chapter of my life is ending too.
Nov 30, 2015 They were down most of the game and Aflalo was going off but I never lost faith in my boys Marcus Thorton saved us in the end Kinda sad Kevin McHale wasn't there though
Nov 30, 2015 @Kon I hate to play the what if game but.....what if he hadn't torn his achilles in 2012/13? Does he still make this announcement? Does Dwight stay? He was still a top 5 player that year.
Nov 30, 2015 Copy of the letter Laker's fan received at the game last night "When we first met I was just a kid. Some of you took me in. Some of you didn't. But all of you helped me become the player and man in front of you today. You gave me confidence to put my anger to good use. Your doubt gave me determination to prove you wrong. You witnessed my fears morph into strength. Your rejection taught me courage. "Whether you view me as a hero or a villain, please know I poured every emotion, every bit of passion and my entire self into being a Laker. What've you done for me is far greater than anything I've done for you. I knew that each minute of each game that I wore purple and gold. I honor it as I play today and for the rest of this season. My love for this city, this team, and for each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey."
Nov 30, 2015 Saw MJ play with the bulls. Saw Kobe with the lakers, without a doubt the 2 greatest competitiors I ever saw play.
Nov 30, 2015 get knocked on your a--- by a 250lb man going full speed and you get up and keep playing kobe retires and you fight back tears that's how it goes being a sports fan i guess. good bye to one of the greatest the game has ever seen.
Nov 30, 2015 Never get to watch much of MJ because I was too little but I witnessed Kobe's success. He was arguably the best to ever did it. A Lakers legend.
Nov 30, 2015 Definitely a sad day and gonna be even sadder when he officially hangs them up. In his press conference yesterday, reporters kept asking, "Kobe, are you sad, upset, disappointed" etc..and he kept replying, "no, it's beautiful because of the journey". He truly appreciates each part of the 20 years for something different. There's a sort of poetic justice to the way he's going out, guns blazing. Kobe's always loved and embraced the role/mentality of being a franchise player. I feel like he kind of has to go out like this, 20 years in, d--- the FG%, I'm getting these shots up because I believe I can win us this game.
Nov 30, 2015 Quite frankly I think it's impossible to know the answers to what you're asking as I feel the last few years of his career would have been completely different had the injury not happened. I still wonder if Kobe would have even fallen off, I mean his last full game when he was healthy he put up 47, 8, 5 and also had like 4 blocks and 3 steals or something. He was still playing ridiculous ball even a day before the injury. He was carrying that team to the playoffs all by himself even playing 48 mins a night in some of those last games. I'll always be a little disappointed we never got to see how this story would have ended without that injury. Also it kinda sucks we didn't get one last good playoff run from him, I guess you can say his last great playoff moment was getting that team to the playoffs. Unfortunately he couldn't play and they got destroyed by the Spurs though. That team really needed a better coach cuz D'Antoni couldn't handle all the star power.
Nov 30, 2015 Good call, I know it might sound crazy but I don't think that he ruptures his achilles if Phil was coaching instead of D'Antoni. Like you said, he couldn't handle the star power, so he put his faith in a 34 year old superstar to try and save his job and it almost worked. If Phil is there, I think he would have been able to make it work between them. There's no way Phil he'd throw Kobe out there for 40+ minutes every night either.
