Last Ride With 24.

Following Kobe Bryant's path in his last NBA Season and recapturing memories he has created over time.

[lastridewith24-blog]

Kobe Bryant Infographic.

[lastridewith24-blog]

(via Like Mike 3)

[lastridewith24-blog]

Kobe Bryant's Advice to Stephen Curry and the Warriors: "Go Make History"

Kobe Bryant tells Stephen Curry to "make history" with the Warriors

This is a great show of greatness respecting greatness. It appears that Kobe Bryant has passed on the torch of the best player in the league to Curry, what an honor he has some big shoes to fill.

“Go Make History” – Kobe Bryant said to Stephen Curry

What was Kobe Bryant talking about?

Well seeing as how Kobe Bryant is going to retire after the end of this current NBA season it is time for the new generation to step up and take over the sport of basketball.

Now for those who are not as caught up on the NBA let me fill you in really quickly. Stephen Curry has taken his Golden State Warriors team and led them to an NBA best 55 wins and only five defeats. If this does not mean anything to you yet well let me put it in perspective, the Warriors are on pace to be the best NBA team in history.

The current best team in NBA history is the 1996 Chicago Bulls lead by Michael Jordan to a record of 72 wins and 10 defeats. Yes, the best player in history belongs to the greatest team in NBA history.

Kobe Bryant as great as he was never had a shot to narrow in on Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls history record. Curry does have a legitimate shot at not only catching up to Jordan but to possibly surpass him.

Kobe Bryant then went on record to mention the following.

"You guys have got to go ahead and make history,"

"I got to chase you," Curry replied.

"Damn right," Bryant told Curry. "Absolutely. Come and get it."

[lastridewith24-blog]

Lakers star Kobe Bryant announced he will retire after this season, saying that he's accepted "that I can't actually do this anymore, and I'm OK with that."

"This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind but my body knows it's time to say goodbye.”

"And that's OK. I'm ready to let you go."

How does Kobe Bryant feel about retiring? Well these words listed above should put it all in perspective for you. You can figure the ultimate competitor like Kobe Bryant to make a decision and hang up the sneakers must not be easy but when you know it time you know.

"I've known for a while," Bryant said. "A decision like this, you can't make that decision based on outside circumstances. It has to be an internal decision, and finally I've decided to accept that I can't actually do this anymore, and I'm OK with that.

Earlier in the season Kobe Bryant released a letter to all attending a basketball game where he announced his retirement in possibly the most classiest of ways, and the most personal I might add.

[lastridewith24-blog]

Ask Michael Jordan, yes thee one and only Michael Jordan what Kobe Bryant has done for the NBA and see what he says. For those who don’t know Michael Jordan is the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, which leads us to the following. The last time the Lakers played the Charlotte Hornets there was a tribute video made in honor of Kobe “Bean” Bryant.

Jordan mentions what Kobe has done for the game of basketball for over 20 years as well as recalling the first time they played against one another. Jordan mentioned countless times as to how he looked at Kobe as his “little brother.” For those who don’t know Kobe Bryant was originally drafted by the Hornets and then eventually traded to the Lakers. However Jordan doesn’t forget that even if it was for a brief moment that Kobe was a Hornet.

If you ever wanted to know what the best player to possibly ever play the sport thought when speaking about Kobe Bryant it is truly heartwarming. He honors Kobe without saying that he himself is better than the Black Mamba, instead he says what he has done for the game after he retired from the NBA.

We can’t sum up Jordan’s heartfelt words in a blog but definitely watch the video and see for yourself what greatness thinks about greatness.

[lastridewith24-blog]

It was bad to be a trash can if Kobe Bryant was mad.

Ask anyone, anyone at all about how the Los Angeles Lakers season has gone this year. They are going to stare back at you with a black look on their faces. Kobe Bryant has always been known as a fierce competitor. But how does he feel about the Lakers having a record of 11 wins and 44 losses at the halfway mark of the season? If you have ever watched a game that results in the defeat of Kobe Bryant’s team you know he is not a happy camper, he is the ultimate competitor and has the desire to win every game.

Of course this was the old Kobe now he’s a different Kobe.

This seasons Kobe is all smiles all the time, to put it in perspective he is enjoying his last ride. He was interviewed after a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in January. Interviewers brought it up to his attention that the losses don’t seem to affect him as much these days.

Kobe responded with “I just hide it a lot better,” Kobe then followed that up with

"When you're playing for a championship or you have championship talent, it [ticks] you off a lot more when you're not playing up to that level of potential," he said. "The team that we have now, we're playing hard. The first two games against Oklahoma [City], you see a big, big difference from then until now. Those things make me happy."

If you want to put winning aside at least for this year and enjoy a talent like Kobe Bryant one last time this is definitely the season for you.

[lastridewith24-blog]

We compare the future Hall of Famers to their 35-and-older age group this season, and Duncan measures up well. Bryant? Not so much.

It’s that time of the week again, no not Friday but Monday and what better than to have “Matchup Mondays.”

Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan….well what a successful pair of words that is to say together. Both NBA players have been playing for what seems nearly all your life. Kobe Bryant is in his 20th season while Duncan is in his 19th season. You can compare both to all the championships and all the individual awards they have won however at this point in their careers are they still productive? Well lets find out by comparing them to other seasoned veterans in their late 30′s.

Points/Game:

Duncan at age 39 and Kobe at age 37 are playing a good amount of minutes compared to other aging veterans around the league. Looking into the points scoring a game Kobe dominates with a +81% while Duncan only has a +9% as listed below.

 Usage %:

Now look at the usage percentage, this is the amount a player is used in some sort of way on the court for a team. Kobe Bryant is in a high at +63% compared to his peers. Duncan on the other hand is at -0.1%.

 Peer group by Win Shares

Okay maybe Duncan can finally beat Kobe in something at this point in their careers. What is that you say? Well that would be wins, Basketball-Reference.com compiled the contributed wins aging players have. Duncan came in with 2.5 which was second best to Nowitzki while Kobe Bryant came in with -1.1.

Kobe Bryant still has our edge due to his dominance in so many other categories. Duncan is a future hall of famer but there is simply no comparing what Kobe Bryant has meant to this game. Keep watching all those old timers in the game now a day; you will soon realize they were on top at one point. Kobe well he still may be there as long as he keeps playing.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14334667/kobe-bryant-tim-duncan-compared-their-nba-peer-group 

[lastridewith24-blog]

The poem.

When Kobe announced his upcoming retirement in a form of poem, he shook up the basketball world. Not only did he shake up the basketball world, but his announcement effected people through out the world as well. Kobe has been one of the best players in the world in the last two decades. His accolades alone and what he brought to the table cannot be compared to other players. The link above has some athletes, celebrities’ tweets that you can see below. 

Kobe retiring will definitely will be the end of an era. Below is Kobe’s poem. 

Dear Basketball, 

From the moment I started rolling my dad’s tube socks And shooting imaginary Game-winning shots In the Great Western Forum I knew one thing was real:

I fell in love with you. 

A love so deep I gave you my all — From my mind & body To my spirit & soul. 

As a six-year-old boy Deeply in love with you I never saw the end of the tunnel. I only saw myself Running out of one. 

And so I ran. I ran up and down every court After every loose ball for you. You asked for my hustle I gave you my heart Because it came with so much more. 

I played through the sweat and hurt Not because challenge called me But because YOU called me. I did everything for YOU Because that’s what you do When someone makes you feel as Alive as you’ve made me feel. 

You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream And I’ll always love you for it. But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer. This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding My mind can handle the grind But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.

And that’s OK. I’m ready to let you go. I want you to know now So we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other All that we have.

And we both know, no matter what I do next I’ll always be that kid With the rolled up socks Garbage can in the corner :05 seconds on the clock Ball in my hands. 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1 

Love you always, Kobe

[lastridewith24-blog]

Could Kobe Bryant have deferred to a young star like Kawhi Leonard as Tim Duncan has in San Antonio? Michael C. Wright and Baxter Holmes discuss the very different twilight years of two legends.

Lakers vs. Spurs Kobe Bryant vs. Tim Duncan Los Angeles vs. San Antonio

These two teams, and players, share a long history of matches played in regular season, but will forever be remembered for their playoff rivalry in the Western Conference. From 1999 to 2010, these two teams have combined to win 9 out of the 12 championships, with six playoff series between the two. The match-up between Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan will soon come to an end, a story of two legendary players with multiple rings among the both of them. 

And now, as we get set to witness and enjoy Kobe’s last performance in the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, tomorrow night, against his long time rival opponent, fans from both cities and everywhere, express their bittersweet feeling in this letter to the Black Mamba...

Dear Kobe,

It's been awhile Since you've been a dominant basketball player Draining fadeaway jumpers And embarrassing defenders In front of the entire world But even though your skills are diminished, I have to admit:

I will miss watching you play basketball.

You've been a pleasure to all basketball fans From your time with Shaq and Phil Jackson Ro the end of days as you idle alongside Hibbert and Sacre

As a six-year-old boy Watching from afar I never thought this day would ever come The day you wouldn't be wearing a jersey with "LAKERS" affixed on the center As you desperately fend off Father Time with each game

And basketball won't be the same without you. The NBA will survive, of course There's excellent young talent rising in the ranks That may rival yours But will never rival your competitive ferocity You were always unique for that.

You played thousands of minutes, attempted thousands of shots and won hundreds of games Not many players have risen to the occasion quite like you For awhile, you had the Spurs' number Winning playoff games And completing a three-peat You dashed the hopes and dreams of the 2000 Spurs, the 2001 Spurs, 2002 Spurs and 2004 Spurs Along with Derek stinking Fisher

You gave a six-year-old boy a taste of basketball royalty And I'll always appreciate you for it. But no one, not even Old Man Riverwalk himself, can play basketball forever. This season has proved that. After all, your field goal percentage is lower than your age The Lakers are suffering from your questionable shot selection It's time to say goodbye.

And that's expected. But I'm still not ready to let the Spurs-Lakers rivalry go The clashes between two basketball titans Pitting Shaq and Kobe against Duncan and Robinson With Phil Jackson sparring with Gregg Popovich on the sidelines I savor the good and the bad moments Everything.

And we both know, no matter how this season plays out You'll always be one of Tim Duncan's best rivals, if not the best Bringing out the best of the Spurs And being a measuring stick For their championship aspirations Careers come and go, But the Tim Duncan vs. Kobe Bryant rivalry is forever

Respect you always, Spurs fans

One last ride with number 24 in the San Antonio...

[lastridewith24-blog]

Watch young Kobe Bryant and young Kevin Garnett get to know each other

Watch young Kobe Bryant and young Kevin Garnett get to know each other

For those of us in our mid 20’s, we have seen many great athletes in our time. A pretty obvious one is the impeccable legacy of Kobe Bryant. He has been dominating the league since he came straight out of high school. Who’s another talent that came right out of high school and excelled? Well how about Kevin Garnett? Yes thee one and only Kevin Garnett.

Garnett and Bryant have been without a doubt two of the best players to ever come into the NBA straight from high school.

Drafted:

               Bryant was drafted 13th overall in 1996. He is now 37 years old.

               Garnett was drafted 5th overall in 1995. He is now 39 years old.

Both have played together as teammates in All-Star games and both have played as heated rivals. Garnett has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves as well as the Boston Celtics (yes the bitter rival Celtics to any Laker fan). Kobe has proudly and impressively played his whole career as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Enjoy the moment:

Kevin Garnett is interviewed during an All-Star game warm up while hanging out with Kobe Bryant. Garnett goes on record to say how both of them have made it, referring to achieving the ultimate goal of a young high school kid growing up wanting to play pro ball. He and Kobe both agree how they have done this for so long that five years from now they will be gone and the room will be consisting of new younger talents.

Even when they are gone from the game we loved them for playing, they won’t be forgotten. They paved the way for the new generation of basketball, and for that I say thank you Kobe and Garnett.

[lastridewith24-blog]

Vintage Vino 🍷

There he is! Kobe Bryant proved on Tuesday night that he still got some of that “Vintage Vino” still left in him. The Black Mamba turned the clock back Tuesday night against the Timberwolves, scoring a season-high 38 points, including seven 3-pointers. Bryant was 7-for-11 from deep, good for 64 percent. That tied the fourth-best mark of his career in a game in which he took at least 10 3-pointers. This was Bryant’s first game with seven 3-pointers since March 28, 2008 (he had nine in that game). He is now the oldest player with seven 3-pointers in a game since Reggie Miller in 2004. In addition to the 38 points, Bryant recorded 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He is the oldest player with at least 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a game since Karl Malone in 2003. Bryant now has 154 career games with 30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, the third-most in NBA history behind LeBron James (256) and Michael Jordan (213). Bryant has 428 games of at least 30 points in his career. The Elias Sports Bureau notes it’s the fifth-highest total in NBA history. The Lakers are 3-0 when Bryant scores at least 30 points this season. They are 5-33 in all other games Bryant played in which he didn’t reach the mark, which further proves how dominant of a play he can be.

[lastridewith24-blog]

A SOLID 23 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. However the best stat was greeting Make-A-Wish recipient Yitzi Teichman who was diagnosed with a brain tumor(Chordoma). True class Kobe👌🏽 #kobe #kobebryant #bryant #lalakers #lakers #hornetsvslakers #ballislife #nba #mvp #lakeshow #makeawish #24 #8 #losangeles #basketball #goat #classy #lastridewith24 (at Staples Center)

[lastridewith24-blog]

VIDEO: Kobe Bryant's Finest Moments In Charlotte Vs. Hornets

The course of NBA history would be drastically different if it wasn’t for a decision made by the Charlotte Hornets that goes down as one of the worst ever seen by the league. After drafting promising prospect Kobe Bryant 13th overall in 1996, the Hornets immediately swapped him to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. According …

Taking a walk down memory lane to the anticipated match-up between the Los Angeles Lakers and the team that once drafted, debatable, one of the top 5 players of all-times, the Charlotte Hornets. 

That player, we all know, Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant was drafted 13th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets only to be traded up to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac immediately. How different would the game of the NBA have been if the Hornets would have kept Bryant and his career would have began in Charlotte? Would Bryant have won his 5 NBA titles in Charlotte? What outcome would his career had and would we be talking about him in the same way we mention Bryant today as he prepares to retire at the end of this 2015-2016 season. Truth is, nobody knows how different Bryant’s career and the history of the NBA would have been if in 1996 the Hornets would have kept an 18-year old Kobe Bryant. 

Now, as we get set to see Kobe face off one last time against the team that drafted him nearly 20 years ago, a questionnaire comes to mind of NBA experts and a bittersweet feeling to all those NBA and Kobe fans. The only question everyone in common has in mind is.... Will Kobe play tomorrow night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, for his last ride against the Charlotte Hornets.

[lastridewith24-blog]

They wanted to be teammates "forever," but Pau Gasol needed a fresh start from the Lakers in 2014, a decision Kobe Bryant reluctantly accepted.

           Kobe Bryant has been instrumental to the Los Angeles Lakers not just this season but all his professional career. Along the way he has made arch enemies, friends, fans and even haters. Last night the Los Angeles Lakers played the Chicago Bulls. Now why is this game of interest, simple Pau Gasol now plays for the Chicago Bulls. You remember Pau Gasol right? That man many Laker fans loved throughout championship wins. These two grew close over a six and a half season stretch. During that span they had three NBA Finals appearances and two NBA championships.

Bryant stated after the game, “I wanted to make sure there was no double-teams or anything, Just let us play like it was practice.”

Now Gasol during his time as a Laker was popular, and Kobe gave him his full support stating “As long as I’m here, [Gasol is] going to be here.”

However this was not the case, he eventually was in every trade block at the end of his time in Los Angeles. This made him feel unwelcomed and led to him signing with the Bulls in 2014.

Kobe went on to say "He was like, 'Dude, no. It's principle at this point.' I think, as his brother, I understand completely where he's coming from -- bringing two championships here and then to hear his name being thrown in trade rumors all day long and have [Lakers coach Mike] D'Antoni bench him.

"So I understand where he's coming from. Listen, we're people before we're basketball players, especially for a player that brought so much to this organization, I completely understand where he's coming from. If I didn't understand it, we wouldn't be as close as we are to this day."

"We had incredible times," Gasol said. "That's my career as an NBA player. We had some rougher times, because of all the changes and the decisions that were made. But we always stuck together, and our relationship is stronger. I'm extremely happy that I was able to share those moments with him and go through all of those things."

It is clear that this sport not only brings people together but it brings these talented athletes together through a special bond on and off the court. Does Kobe still miss Gasol, without a doubt. Gasol meant so much to Kobe, it was ultimately a thing of beauty seeing them bond possibly one last time on the court, even if this time it was as opponents.

[lastridewith24-blog]

"A game without KOBE..." TONIGHT! The Lakers take on the Dallas Mavericks inside Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. #kobe #kobebryant #kb24 #theblackmamba #blackmamba #teamkobe #teammamba #kobe24 #bryant24 #countonkobe #goat #nbavote #hooplife #ballislife #kobethebeast #nba #nba2k16 #nbabasketball #legend #lakeshow #lakers #lalakers #golakers #losangeles #losangeleslakers #lal #mvp #lastridewith24 #mavsvslakers

[lastridewith24-blog]

Ever wonder how greatness met greatness? Through more greatness of course. Ronaldinho introduced Kobe to a 17 year old kid named Messi #kobe #kobebryant #mvp #kobe24 #lalakers #losangeles #lakers #lakeshow #24 #8 #ballislife #thegreatest #nba #basketball #messi #ronaldinho #soccer #sports #loveforthegame #10 #barca #barcelona

[lastridewith24-blog]

Last nights results! #kobe #kobebryant #kb24 #theblackmamba #blackmamba #teamkobe #teammamba #kobe24 #bryant24 #kobebryantpics #countonkobe #goat #nbavote #hooplife #ballislife #kobethebeast #kobebeanbryant #nba #nba2k16 #nbalegend #legend #lakeshow #lakers #lalakers #golakers #losangeleslakers #lal #mvp #lastridewith24 #lakersvsblazers