Photo: @UtahJazz
Unfortunately, as Kobe Bryant takes his final, Derek Jeter-esque tour around NBA cities with the season winding down, his Lakers aren’t exactly playing up to snuff. They’re a lowly 16-59 and last in the Western Conference. Rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell just “accidentally” ratted out teammate Nick Young for having extra marital interests in a bizarre social media fiasco and the franchise is in transition, restructuring its roster while hoping for another high draft pick to reward its recent futility.
But at least the Jazz sent Bryant out right in its final meeting with the Black Mamba, giving the legendary Laker two guard a pair of Salomon Skis and a season pass to Snowbird, a gift he called, “unbelievable.” And if next winter is anything like this one, he’ll be skiing pow top to bottom.
The Lakers were pummeled by 48 points in Bryant’s final game in Salt Lake City but Bryant was still appreciative. It was a much different vibe for Bryant, who historically has given the Jazz fits in the Western Conference on his way to five world titles. “It’s really, really different to be cheered for here,” he said. “They [the fans] are as brutal as you can get, so it feels good to have that response. They want to hate me tonight, I want to hate them. But we suck.”
