Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson says nothing in Kobe Bryant’s two-decade career tops the guard’s final NBA appearance, a 60-point outburst at Staples Center in 2016. Johnson revealed his favorite Bryant memory on Thursday during the Dodgers All-Access event at Dodger Stadium.
Asked to choose one highlight from Bryant’s extensive résumé, Johnson pointed to the dramatic conclusion of the five-time champion’s career. “He was hurt, he wasn’t 100 percent after the Achilles, and still the entire crowd stood through the second half,” Johnson told the audience. “We kept saying, ‘He’s at 50, he can’t keep going,’ and he did.”
The 60-point performance capped Bryant’s 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson called it the most spectacular career finale he has witnessed, noting how the game’s volume and energy intensified with each basket.
Johnson also mentioned Portland’s March 2004 matchup, when Bryant buried a three-pointer to force overtime and another to win the game despite facing self-proclaimed “Kobe stopper” Ruben Patterson. “I could tell stories about Kobe forever,” Johnson said. “He was sensational, always driving himself and his teammates.”
The Lakers legend reflected on the franchise’s transition in the late 1990s, crediting then-general manager Jerry West for trading for the 18-year-old Bryant and pairing him with Shaquille O’Neal. Johnson believes the duo had the potential to capture “five or six” additional championships had they stayed together longer; they won three straight from 2000 to 2002.
Beyond basketball, Johnson praised Bryant’s dedication to family and his frequent visits to Dodger Stadium. “Sitting next to him at games, we laughed the whole time,” Johnson recalled.
Source: Lakers Nation
