On a night of epic proportions, the West Coast was filled with excitement and wonderment. The Golden State Warriors were on the quest for the best in season record ever in the NBA at 73-9, and Kobe Bryant, a living legend was taking the floor for the last time in a purple and gold uniform he has donned for 20 years. Expectedly, both arenas were packed from the courtside seats to the rafters, hoping to see history made, and a legend walk into the sunset on a high note.
The Warriors took the Grizzlies by storm on their home court at the aptly named ‘Roaracle’ Arena in front of a sold out raucous fan base. Not only were the Dubs on a quest for a mark in NBA team history books, Steph Curry was looking to stretch his own record to an insurmountable untouchable level. He put up 19 threes, only needing 8, to get 400 threes on the season after already breaking his own record. He made 10 for a point total of 46, adding to a team score of 125. The top team in the NBA, looked the part and played it on their way to history at 73-9 for a season that was hard fought and well earned as they look to take their next shot at the title come playoffs that begin on Monday.

From a team that is a bonafide contender for a repeat of a title, to a team that for a night looked as if it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Staples Center was filled with fans and celebrities alike just as it was in their years on contention for titles. Tinseltown was bustling on the Lakers side for one night, and one night only. The thing was, it wasn’t for a championship. It was for the greatest and longest tenured champion take the court for one last time for one last show, on one of the greatest platforms in the NBA and world.

Many wanted Kobe to go off on one of his ‘Kobe Nights’. They wanted 20, 30, 40, 50 maybe even 81 again. However, knowing his limitations due to age and injury and the teams futile state with their makeshift cast of characters, many believed it would be a pipe dream. 

The fanfare began with your typical tributes: video vignettes of past accomplishments, well wishes from former teammates, staff and family members, a loving embrace with Magic Johnson and Shaq, a long welcome and standing ovation. It truly played the part of a farewell. You knew what was coming next. The impromptu shots -chucking it if you will, the Old Gunslinger going out in a gunfight even know he wasn’t going to win. Well that ideology was abruptly obliterated.

Even though the Jazz were not in contention from 20 minutes before tip due to the Rockets winning out the 8th seed (you get the Warriors, good luck!), they still came to play for pride and win the game. And so did Kobe. Kobe did come out chucking and he was hitting a few, but just enough to keep the Lakers in the game. The crowd was electric wanting more and more waning at every shot, every dribble, every hesitation and pump fake hoping to see magic recreated by the Black Mamba. For a man that couldn’t move most of the season, Byron Scott did his best coaching of the year by letting him keep his body at a limitation to go out for a bang. And he did. 

Kobe played the final 30 minutes of the game for the Lakers. He scored 38 points in the second half. He scored 17 straight points to help lead his team to a win like the Kobe of old. Oh yeah, and he hit a GW jumper to put them up 97-96 and solidified it with 2 FT’s giving him 60 points for the last game of his career. 60. His game left the Lakers and the world in awe and acknowledgment/appreciation for his greatness and service to the game. He went out the way he should’ve, swinging. 

In the end, the crowd was on its feet, teammates awaiting to congratulate him and thank him for being a great teammate, former teammates from all his 20 years with the Lakers including Lamar Odom, and of course his loving family. No one knew his last game would end like this. Hell, either did he, but no ones complaining. We were able to witness the Old Gunslinger walk into the sunset, on his own accord, and bask in the moment and the accolades rained down from his peers and those from afar for a job well done.

These two games will forever go down in NBA historical lore for their impacts on the season and the game. These displays of athletic prowess can not be emulated or duplicated, by anyone. They can always do one better, but it wouldn’t be the same as what has happened in that present and passing moment. It was a timeless occurrence, a phenomena if you will that will forever reign as one of the single greatest nights in NBA history. You cannot write these moments. There could be no script. It’s the beauty of sport and the cosmos that make us appreciate these magical moments that leaves us in awe, filling our hearts with joy and wonderment. Only in a way, that sports can.