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NBA -- ​The spectacle of Kobe​'​​s curtain call in Milwaukee By Kelly Manalo PhilBoxing.com Wed, 24 Feb 2016  Kobe Bryant, for the last time in his legendary career, stepped foot onto the BMO Harris Bradley Center floor to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. As a Chicago native who grew up watching Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, being sent to cover this event was an immense honor. With the NBA season winding down fans only have a few more times to see the Black Mamba perform. A night before this road trip, the Lakers played in Chicago, a huge market where Kobe has an equally huge following. I didn?t know what to expect when I arrived in Milwaukee but it was clear right away that the fanfare continued. There were plenty of purple and gold jerseys in the arena as fans traveled from different places to see Bryant play his last game in this vibrant city in the Midwest. Some drove from Chicago even though they went to see him play the night before, paying premium ticket prices hoping to see the former MVP put on one last great performance. Two fans traveled as far as India to watch their favorite player hit the hardwood one last time. Bryant came out to a standing ovation as the Milwaukee Bucks paid him a beautiful tribute video with coach Jason Kidd, who played against Kobe in the NBA Finals, speaking through much of it. The game did not go well for Kobe and his Lakers. They were down from the get-go but every time the five-time champion touched the ball, the crowd cheered, waiting for something special to happen. Kobe did not shoot well from the field, however, going 3 for 12 and finishing with 15 points while getting to the free throw line nine times. Kobe had two highlight plays during the fun-filled night. One was a beautiful pump fake that sent Jabari Parker in the air before hitting a step-back 3. The other was a majestic fade away jumper near the baseline. But there was no vintage Kobe performance as the Lakers looked over-matched in a 108-101 defeat. Although a strong contingent of Lakers fans trooped the Bradley Center, the arena exploded with noise each time Milwaukee hit a 3 or dunked the basketball. With the game out of reach by the end of the third quarter the Black Mamba checked out the game. The crowd felt a little restless as chants of ?We want Kobe? periodically echoed through the arena. Their pleas went unnoticed as Bryant sat the entire fourth quarter and was seen on the bench with ice on his knees and shoulder. When it looked like his night was done, the whole arena erupted with chants of ?Thank you Kobe? which was orchestrated by Milwaukee?s Zone 6 fans. Kobe acknowledged it with a wave as the final buzzer sounded. The All-Star spoke to the media at a press conference shortly thereafter and he talked about a handful of things. He praised young Buck Giannis Antetokounmpo who tallied a triple double in the game. ?He has the physical tools, the intelligence, now it is just a matter of him believing in himself and going after it. He has the talent to be a great player.? When asked about his favorite memories playing in Milwaukee, he mentioned playing against the original Big 3 in Sam Cassell, Glenn ?Big Dog? Robinson, and Ray Allen. Ray Allen for him was one of the toughest opponents he had to go against but he loved the challenge. When asked about what the game has done for him and how he felt now as retirement beckons, he said he was actually excited to take the lessons he has learned through the game of basketball in his life. ?I learned how to communicate with others, and help others get through tough situations,? Bryant added. When he finally stepped down from the podium and walked off, we saw a humble and appreciative player walking away from the game he so desperately loved, but looked at peace with it. For someone who had watched Kobe Bryant since he joined the NBA 20 seasons ago, it was hard to see him struggle and not dominate like he used to. As I left the arena and took the hour or so drive home I couldn?t help but think about his career. I ignored the last two injury-plagued seasons and his ongoing struggles. All I wanted to relish were his achievements: the multiple All-Star nods, the 81-point game, the championship runs with Shaq, and the many other highlights of his legendary career. That?s how I wanted to remember Kobe ---- as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Kelly Manalo.  |
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