Kobe Bryant’s 60-Point Farewell Still Echoes 10 Years On
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LOS ANGELES — A decade after Kobe Bryant closed his 20-year NBA career with an unlikely 60-point outburst, everyone who occupied Staples Center on April 13, 2016, recalls the night as if it happened yesterday.
Bryant opened his final appearance by missing his first five shots, drawing anxious groans from a capacity crowd dotted with celebrities, former teammates and league rivals. The tension evaporated when a 10-footer dropped with 5:12 remaining in the first quarter, triggering a run of five consecutive makes and the first of many “Kobe! Kobe!” chants that would shake the arena before evening’s end.
‘He turned into the Black Mamba’
“When that shot went in we knew the floodgates were open,” former teammate Jordan Clarkson said. Julius Randle, now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, added, “He wanted to win that game like it was a championship.”
Bryant finished with 60 points on 22-for-50 shooting, willing the 17-65 Lakers to a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz. He scored Los Angeles’ final 17 points, including the go-ahead 19-footer and two free throws that sealed the result.
Behind the scenes
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame photographer Andrew Bernstein began documenting Bryant’s last day at 4 a.m., meeting the guard at his Newport Beach office before riding with him by helicopter to the arena. Bernstein remembered the future Hall of Famer falling asleep five minutes into the flight, calling his calm “incredible on that day of all days.”
Bryant arrived in an all-black suit and sunglasses, signing autographs and chatting with staff before suiting up. Inside a packed locker room, longtime color analyst Stu Lantz heard the veteran declare, “I’m going to have some fun tonight.”
Festivities before tipoff
The pregame ceremony featured a video tribute headlined by Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Magic Johnson addressed the crowd, labeling Bryant “the greatest Laker ever,” while Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea performed the national anthem. Lakers public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter described the scene as “pretty hectic,” with reporters and VIPs blanketing the floor well before warm-ups.
The game plan: get Kobe the ball
Head coach Byron Scott told his team during every timeout, “Kobe’s got the ball; everyone else, get out of the way.” The original plan limited Bryant to 36 minutes, but the 37-year-old played 42, his most since 2014. Trainer Gary Vitti, also retiring that night, simply hoped the star would reach Game 82 healthy after seasons marred by a torn Achilles tendon, knee and shoulder injuries.
Utah, eliminated from playoff contention moments before tipoff, tried a mix of defenders. Forward Joe Ingles later admitted, “It felt like no matter how many guys we sent, he wasn’t missing.” The Jazz played without All-Defensive center Rudy Gobert, and Bryant exploited every opening down the stretch.
Final moments
A layup with 3:05 left cut Utah’s lead to eight and ignited the closing barrage. After two more layups and free throws, Bryant drilled a left-wing three over Trey Lyles to pull Los Angeles within one. His mid-range jumper on the next possession put the Lakers ahead for good. An outlet pass to Clarkson for a late basket became Bryant’s last career assist.
Officials David Guthrie, Monty McCutchen and Haywoode Workman briefly celebrated the spectacle afterward; Guthrie kept the box score, his lone game memento in 21 NBA seasons. “That one’s just a little more special,” he said.
‘Mamba out’
After a standing ovation and embraces from teammates, Bryant hugged O’Neal—who asked, “How’d you do that?”—and greeted his family at center court. Wearing a sweat-soaked No. 24 jersey, he thanked fans during a nearly four-minute speech and ended with the two words that still reverberate across Laker lore: “Mamba out.”
A full 10 years later, participants struggle to explain what they witnessed, yet none doubt why it happened. As Clarkson concluded, “It was all-out sacrifice for one common goal, and that was this guy.”
Source: ESPN
