The NBA Break is over. After the thrilling Slam Dunk Contest and Kobe’s last All-Star Game, what could be left of the NBA season? Well, let’s see what is left.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) kisses his daughter before the first half of the NBA all-star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016 in Toronto. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)
Most importantly it is the last half of Kobe’s last season. After these 27 games, there will be no more Black Mamba. Here are some of his last notable games.
On February 19, 2016, Kobe will go to San Antonio and play the Spurs for the last time. From 1999-2010 the Lakers and the Spurs ruled the West and the NBA. Both franchises captured 11 Western Conference titles. The Lakers had seven and the Spurs had four. From 199-2010, both teams won the NBA Finals nine NBA championships. Lakers had five, including their 3-peat in 2000-2002. They Lakers also went an addition two times and lost in 2004 to the Detroit Pistons and in 2008 to the Boston Celtics. And the Spurs had four titles in that span.
Courtesy of Ronald Cortes/ Getty Images
On February 21, 2016, he visits the Bulls and plays Jordan’s old team. The man Kobe, like most, wanted to be like. And Pau Gasol, his former teammate, will back in the building to play Kobe. We predict Jordan will be in the building and Kobe will want to have a great night. Kobe should be well rested on one and a half days’ rest. I’m predicting the Lakers will get blown out against the Spurs and Kobe will be out early in the second half.
On March 10th, he will host the King and the Cavs in LA in his last showdown with LeBron James. Kobe usually doesn’t do great against LeBron but on that night, Kobe could put up a good 30 points. Cavs’s coach Tyronn Lue is also former teammate of Kobe. This will be the last showdown against the debatably best players after Michael Jordan.
Three days later, Kobe will play the Knicks in the Staples Center. Of course Phil Jackson, his coach will travel to LA to see Kobe play. But I could see something bigger happening on that night. I would love to see them bring some of the 3-peat team to the game and the Laker organization will honor them on that night. Kobe, Shaq, Derek Fisher, and Phil all on the court together one last time. That could be one of the more memorable moments of the season, if they could pull that off.
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On April 3rd, he will host the Boston Celtics for the last time. This Boston team might not be the same one Kobe is used to playing but it is still Boston vs. Lakers. In Kobe’s time the Lakers and the Celtics met twice in the NBA Finals and they split back to back championships.
Kobe will play his last game at home against the Utah Jazz on the 13th of April. This game will put the stamp on Kobe’s historic NBA career. All who have ever loved, hated, and respected Kobe will be there. I would not even put it past current players to fly in and watch the game if it falls on a night off for them.
Kobe will be missed by all.
