The Kobe Bryant farewell tour.
Seems odd to say, doesn’t it?
Well, it has quickly become reality. Bryant, the 37-year old veteran for the Los Angeles Lakers, called it quits earlier this week through a post on Twitter. While it comes to no surprise he is retiring, the aftermath has been a treasure to behold.
The fact that even in perhaps his darkest days as a basketball player, Bryant continues to have such a strong showing speaks to the respect he has from fans, teammates, his coaching staff and all who have seen him hit shot after shot over the years.
The old Kobe Bryant would not enjoy shooting 31 percent from the field. The old Kobe Bryant would never settle for the way he has airballed shots in crucial situations. The 81-point Kobe Bryant wouldn’t be able to sleep with some of his performances in the 2015-16 season.
That Kobe Bryant? Forget about it.
This Kobe Bryant cherishes every opportunity he has left on the basketball court. That speaks volumes to the guy who has matured in front of our very eyes. As Bryant graces every city he comes to in this farewell tour, the fact that he continues to smile and joke in the sheer thought that this is it brings basketball fans around the world a bit of sadness.
The competitive edge is still there. Us knowing that it’s time for the Black Mamba to step down is still a feeling we’re trying to understand and acknowledge.
Five NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVPs, one regular-season MVP and 20 years in the league, Bryant will go down as one of the best to ever do it. The comparisons to Michael Jordan do not go unwarranted.
Bryant, however, has seen his time come. The injuries have plagued him and his playing style in recent years, and the numbers are a result of that very fact.
To see Bryant get this overwhelming support from fans across the world is a sight to see. It’s surreal. Road games feel like home games, and even if Bryant is not playing his best ball, it really doesn’t matter THAT much right now.
It’s Bryant’s last ride and he’s having fun. As he should.
That’s the legend who deserves this.
The old Bryant missing 20 shots, shooting 25-to-30 percent from the field and just completely hurting his team in the process would probably lose his mind. That’s the competitive edge.
That’s one of the hardest working basketball players to ever grace the league.
The Bryant who couldn’t carry his team past the then-winless Philadelphia 76ers? Losing to a team that hasn’t won a game since March? Well, I can’t even tell you the reaction he would have.
Playing in his hometown for the last time made it all worth it.
Following up that performance with 31 points in his final game in that nation’s capital? Gratifying.
People are going out of their way to get tickets to see a 3-15 Lakers team. Just for Kobe.
Most guys would crumble under this pressure to perform. Most guys probably wouldn’t want this much attention. Bryant, however, cherishes this feeling. He has his whole career.
We’ve seen this legend blossom from wearing No. 8 to No. 24. From the Afro to this, we’ve all grown up with Bryant to some degree. That’s probably why this whole thing is so surreal.
Has there ever been this much attention given to a player/team with such a record and pretty much a non-existent shot at the postseason? Probably not, but that’s what kind of makes this so special.
Kobe is doing just enough to suck us into this whole chaotic tour. We’re waiting for that clutch shot. We’re waiting for that heroic moment where he turns back time.
We’re all hooked for the unpredictability factor.
That’s what makes this farewell tour so exciting. Thank you, Kobe.