Kobe Bryant’s Stats, Highlights and Reaction from Final NBA Game

Kobe Bryant called it quits Wednesday night in a way only he could. 

While the Los Angeles Lakers appeared destined for a loss to the Utah Jazz in the final game of the Black Mamba's historic 20-year NBA career, Bryant cooked up a signature performance for the ages as he dropped 60 points on 50 shots to hand the purple and gold a 101-96 win at a raucous Staples Center. 



The 60-point game was the sixth of Bryant's career, and it left LeBron James in awe: 



Bryant's 60-point explosion was also the highest scoring game in the NBA all season, and he broke Michael Jordan's single-game field-goal attempt record in the process, according to Basketball-Reference.com. 

ESPN Stats & Info offered a look at Bryant's final shot chart: 



In a vintage performance that conjured up memories of his glory days, Bryant's commitment to volume scoring and shooting served as a brilliant tribute to the style of play that ingratiated him to fans over the past couple of decades. 

 

Pregame Festivities

Kobe's final game wouldn't have been complete without some chill-inducing pregame tributes, and the Lakers pulled out all the stops to shower one of the franchise's true legends with the praise he deserved.

From montages including former teammates and NBA luminaries to Laker legend Magic Johnson calling Kobe "the greatest to wear the purple and gold" during a special in-person presentation, according to the Orange County Register's Bill Oram, the festivities appeared to genuinely touch Kobe as he watched from the bench before making his way to center court, per the NBA on Twitter: 



However, the sentimental segments were just the start of what proved to be a memorable night filled with buckets galore. 

 

A Fitting Finale
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers