Thank You, @kobebryant. #KB20https://t.co/dg7iobdKnZ
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 7, 2016
The Kobe Bryant farewell tour hit San Antonio on Saturday night. The Los Angeles Lakers’ star played his final game in the Spurs’ home arena amidst his decision to retire after the season. The event was especially monumental due to a long history and rivalry between the two franchises in the time that Kobe has been in the league.
As a result, the Spurs pulled out all the stops in sending Bryant off with a great tribute. Before the game, Kobe was presented with a tribute video featuring his highlights as well as some words from the likes of Gregg Popovich, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan.
Ginobili praised Kobe’s “unbelievable determination and competitiveness.”
Duncan claimed that Kobe was always someone “you had to fear” regardless of the score of the game.
Parker called him “the Michael Jordan of our generation.”
Popovich praised Bryant’s ability to “compete at the highest level, night after night.”
It was an altogether touching tribute from some of Bryant’s biggest rivals. Bryant, who has long expressed his admiration of the Spurs’ franchise as well as those players and coaches, was visibly struck with emotion in seeing the tribute.
Kobe did his best to put on a show for the fans, who cheered his name immediately after the tribute video was shown, finishing with 25 points on 9-28 shooting and at one point hitting three three pointers in a row. He helped the Lakers stay competitive before falling to the Spurs 106-102.
