In his final NBA game, Kobe Bryant made sure he went out in legendary fashion.
Capping a 20-year career, an aging Bryant, aged 37, poured in 60 points in a 101-96 come-from-behind Los Angeles Laker victory over the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2016.
Bryant, who made 22 out of 50 shots in the contest - including six three-point makes out of 21 attempts - began the game 0-for-5 before driving on Gordon Hayward and scoring on a short jumper. He proceeded to score on his next four attempts, on his patented jump shot, a long two from the corner, and a wing triple. In the fourth quarter, he let loose, scoring down the stretch in spearheading a Laker comeback. In the fourth, the hosting Lakers outscored the Jazz 35-21.
It was vintage Bryant, the aging master still showing the kids his old tricks - scoring pull-up threes and jumpers with the relative ease that he did throughout his career. It was a showcase befitting of someone who gave his all on the court and left nothing in the tank.
It was the sixth time that Bryant had scored at least 60 points in his career, and the first time since Feb. 2, 2009, a 61-point performance against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Bryant averaged 17.6 points per game in his final season, and an even 25 points per game over his career. He was posthumously part of the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class, one that included contemporaries Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan in what is one of the strongest classes in history.
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