Kobe Bryant may have just played his last game at Madison Square Garden, a venue that Bryant has historically dominated at.
Playing at the arena where he had averaged 30.7 points per game coming in, Bryant got the cheers and adoration of fans as the Lakers fell short against the Knicks, 99-95, reported the Associated Press.
In what may have been his final visit at MSG, Bryant was greeted with applauses and ovations typically reserved for the home team. Not only was he introduced to a rousing ovation, but every time Bryant touched the ball, fans cheered and begged him to shoot. Bryant even heard “M-V-P” chants during a trip to the free-throw line.
“I can remember my first game coming in here, not knowing what the hell to expect and what to do, but just being in such a great arena,'” the 37-year-old Bryant said, '”and then to be here 20 years later and to have that happen feels amazing.”
For the game, Bryant made three of his first five shots, before missing 10 of his final 13 to finish 6-19 on the night for 18 points, shooting two for 10 on 3-pointers in the process. And while Bryant struggled most of the night, he has plenty of memorable performances and moments at Madison Square Garden to look back on.
Bryant, whose contract expires after this year, scored his first NBA point at MSG on a free throw on Nov. 5, 1996, in just his second career game. He’d played in his first All-Star Game there in 1998, and even scored a then-record 61 points on Feb. 2, 2009, a benchmark that has since been surpassed by current Knick, Carmelo Anthony.
“I told him, I said it's not going to feel the same with him being gone,” Anthony said of Bryant. “Him helping me kind of throughout my career, being that guy I can talk to, it's not going to be the same.”
Now in his 20th season, Bryant has yet to indicate his future plans, but has hinted strongly that this season may be his farewell tour.
“If you asked me today, this would be my last year. But you never know,” Bryant said via ESPN. “We'll keep it open. Whatever happens, happens.”