NBA All-Star Game Throwback: A Fitting Finale for Kobe Bryant

The 2016 All-Star game was an unforgettable weekend for NBA fans. Even more so now. Kobe Bryant retired in 2016 after playing his final NBA game in which he scored 60 points.

Bryant recently died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter. The 7 others onboard also died.

The 2016 All-Star Weekend was held in Toronto, Canada. It was the 65th NBA All-Star Game. The Western Conference won 196–173 over the Eastern Conference, and Russell Westbrook was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. This was the first time that the game was held outside the United States.

NBA All-Star 2016: All the Love for Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant couldn’t stop beaming throughout his final All-Star Game. Bryant enjoyed the evening that served as a farewell for many.

Other players said farewell to Bryant in a tribute video that was played soon after Lakers legend Magic Jhonson talked about Bryants NBA career.

When the video finished, the spotlight fell again on Johnson, who declared, “There will never be another Kobe Bryant. Can all of us get on our feet and let him hear it one more time? Kobe Bryant!”

Bryant walked from the bench toward Johnson, gave him a hug and took the microphone as the crowd, standing and cheering by this point, began chanting, “Ko-be! Ko-be!” He grinned as the adoration he has felt in every arena during this farewell tour again washed over him.

“I had a blast playing with those guys, laughing and joking with them on the bench,” Bryant said. “And I got a chance to stop Pau (Gasol) in a post, redeem myself from what he did to me when Chicago came to town.

“But all those things are just fun. I had a great time. I had a great, great time.”

“ Ko-be! Ko-be!” the crowd chanted as Bryant stepped through the entryway onto a stage filled with smoke and dancing spotlights, the final player to be introduced Sunday night at the Air Canada Centre.

“I had a blast playing with those guys, laughing and joking with them on the bench,” Bryant said. “And I got a chance to stop Pau (Gasol) in a post, redeem myself from what he did to me when Chicago came to town.

“But all those things are just fun. I had a great time. I had a great, great time.”

Love From the All-Stars

“Kobe, the road has come to the end,” said Indiana Pacers forward Paul George. “You’ve been an unbelievable mentor to me.”

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for this league,” said Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond. “You’re the reason I play so hard.”

“There’s not a lot of guys who come around like Kobe,” said Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul. “The game is going to miss you.”

“I’m just proud to be your friend, be your brother,” said Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol.

“Kobe, you did all you could for the game and being a champion forever, a walking legend, we appreciate you,” said Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant.

“Kobe Bean,” said Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, “salute, my brother.”

Bryant’s Fairytale Finish

The Western Conference All-Stars’ 196-173 win over their Eastern Conference counterparts amounted to a game-long tribute to Bryant, with touching moments throughout, such as Bryant playfully posting up Gasol, his ex-Lakers teammate, and Bryant dribbling against James on the right wing with James jokingly slapping both hands on the court as if a ferocious one-on-one battle was forthcoming.

“It was just bittersweet being out on the floor with him, knowing the matches between us two are coming to an end soon,” James said. “Man, I’m happy that I’ve been along for a small piece of the ride of his journey.”

Bryant finished with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes. He shot 1-of-5 from 3-point range and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. He added seven assists and six rebounds. After that, he checked out with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter to even more cheers.

Bryant was smiling practically all night from start to finish. When he left the game one final time to cheers and a standing ovation, he saluted the fans and clapped for them. Then the chants began again, one final time in this setting.

“Ko-be! Ko-be!”