Kobe Bryant’s last game in Boston’s legendary TD Garden, a 112-104 victory for the Lakers, will be remembered not only for Bryant’s late-game heroics and double-double, but for how Celtics fans treated Bryant before and during the game. First, the crowd in the Garden gave Bryant a huge ovation when he was introduced. Then, when Bryant came through with a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, the crowd chanted Bryant’s name. This was the stuff of goosebumps and watery eyes.
But it wasn’t just the crowd honoring Bryant. Before the game, the Celtics gave No. 24 a piece of the Garden’s signature parquet floor.
Celtics present Kobe Bryant a piece of the Garden's parquet floor ahead of his final game in Boston. (via @celtics) pic.twitter.com/fVOVW7DEHH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2015
Kobe's gift from the Celtics…a piece of the parquet floor. pic.twitter.com/cwoBAagSN1
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) December 30, 2015
The 2015-16 season will be a hell of a farewell tour for Kobe, but this has to be one of the more memorable moments. The Lakers and Celtics battled through two epic NBA Finals over the last decade, which only added to the long-time rivalry between the two franchises.
“For the second half of my career, it’s the most important piece because when we lost in 2008, that was the turn for me,” Bryant told NESN.com. “That was when I was like, ‘listen, I have to figure this leadership thing out by any means necessary. I can’t go through this.’ That was the turning point.”
Kobe and the TD Garden will always be special because it re-fueled one of the great rivalries not just in the NBA, but in all of sports. The league won’t be the same without Kobe, even if Father Time has caught up to him. It’s only appropriate his final game in Boston was a great one. It’s great to see Boston send him out graciously and in style.
(Via YardBarker)
