Lakers' Kobe Bryant offers vintage performance in career finale

For 20 years, the man sank clutch shots that lifted his team out of a deficit and sent fans into a frenzy.

For 20 years, the man missed wild shots through suffocating double teams, insurmountable distances and even open airballs.

On a night everyone from Magic Johnson to the Lakers fan in the nosebleed sections extolled his greatness, Kobe Bryant’s final game featured everything that made him so captivating both for better and for worse.

The Lakers’ 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday at Staples Center featured Bryant setting his season-high in points (60), a career-high in shot attempts (50) and a season-high in minutes (42). He tied his fifth-highest scoring output of his 20-year NBA career. Bryant also eclipsed his previous record of 47 shot attempts against Boston on Nov. 7, 2002.

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Yet, Bryant also shot only 22 of 50 from the field. He went 6 of 21 from 3-point range, which eclipsed the combined shot totals from D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson (20). Bryant missed his first four shots. He fumbled the ball out of bounds. He even airballed two shots, which brought back reminders of when he did that in a closeout postseason loss in his rookie season in Utah.

Amid all the imperfections, it represented a perfect representation of Bryant. He won five NBA championships by climbing to third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He missed the most shots in league history.

“I go through 20 years of everybody yelling to pass the ball,” Bryant said to the crowd, chuckling under his breath. “Then on the last night, they’re telling me not to pass it.”

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Before that happened, plenty of pageantry awaited Bryant shortly after he strolled into Staples Center nearly two hours before tipoff and hugged Scott.

Courtside fans received a gift bag of a Bryant hat, T-Shirt and an action figure featuring him and a mini-helicopter. His teammates wore his Nike shoes and Bryant-theme socks. They also received commemorative Bryant jerseys worth $800.

“It’s nuts; it doesn’t even feel like a game,” Lakers rookie forward Larry Nance Jr. said. “It feels like a concert.”

This concert featured many acts.

Magic Johnson first spoke before tipoff and explained why he considered Bryant “the greatest to wear the purple and gold.”

“Kobe Bryant has never cheated the game, he has never cheated us as the fans. He’s played through injuries,” Johnson said. “We have five championship baers to show for it.”

The Lakers then played endless tribute videos that featured nearly every athlete and celebrity imaginable. Former teammates, such as Shaquille O’Neal, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, praised Bryant’s play. Different opponents, such as Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Kevin Gaett, Carmelo Anthony and Stephen Curry, complimented Bryant’s competitiveness.

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Bryant then hugged Johnson before trying to match the exteal fanfare with his own electric play.

Bryant scored 15 of the Lakers’ last 17 points to secure the win. After missing his first four shots, Bryant scored nine consecutive points. He converted on shots close to the basket, including a reverse layup. He made shots far away, including ones from 23 and 24 feet, respectively.

“Man!! I can’t believe how fast 20 years went by. This is crazy, absolutely crazy!!” Bryant said to the crowd afterward. “We’ve been through our up and downs. The most important part is we all stayed together throughout.”

It seemed destined to happen.

In one of the tribute videos, late Lakers aouncer Chick Hea asked a 17-year-old Bryant how many years he would play in the NBA. Bryant answered confidently, “At least 19 or 20.”

Bryant did not sound as confident when O’Neal said last month in a TNT interview that Bryant should try to score 50 points in his career finale. Bryant responded, “You’re crazy.”

Actually he isn’t.

Bryant joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan as the only NBA players at 37 years old to log at least 43 points. Bryant’s 60-point game against Utah matched the 60 points he logged against Memphis on May 22, 2007 as his fifth-highest scoring game.

“He prepared for this. This Is what he wanted,” Lakers forward Metta World Peace said. “It’s not a surprise to him. I’m very excited for everybody. Maybe it’s bittersweet for him and what he wanted since he was 8-years old. He knew this day was going to come when he would retire and it would be the biggest day ever.”

That big day ended with yellow confetti dropping out of the Staples Center rafters. Instead of the gesture commemorating another Lakers NBA championship, it celebrated something else grand. For one last time, Bryant showcased his greatness once again no matter how amazing or awful his shots became.