By now, you’ve at least seen the highlights of Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game — 60 points on 50 shots in one last win that perfectly punctuated the man they call Mamba’s career.
It’s hard to believe this is the last generation that will remember Bryant more as the cold-blooded killer who led the Lakers to five NBA championships than as the smiling ambassador during a final season that was lost until he found himself once more.
But my mind would’ve been blown that I’d be covering kids who were born after Michael Jordan won his final title in 1998, so it’s nice to see Kobe give them one more glimpse.
You can be sure members of this year’s American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Basketball Teams tuned in to see their generation’s most fearless competitor.
Third Team ALL-USA
And Third Team ALL-USA selection Frank Jackson retweeted this photo from Utah rival Neema Namdar, who appropriately gave props to Kobe’s days as a prep player:
Likewise, Third Team ALL-USA pick Josh Langford paid his respects earlier in the year: