Comparing Kobe's final game to other NBA legends
The basketball world knew exactly when Kobe Bryant's last game in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform would be following his retirement announcement in The Players' Tribune in November.
The 2015-16 campaign will forever be remembered as "The Black Mamba's" farewell tour from the league, with his 60-point night against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday perfectly wrapping up his Hall of Fame career.
Not every player walks off into the sunset under that kind of spotlight, though, with many leaving with little or no fanfare.
Here's a look at how the numbers from Kobe's career-closer compare to those of some of the league's other all-time greats:
Final games of NBA legends
| Player | Team | Date | Opponent | Minutes | Points | FGM-A | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kobe Bryant | Lakers | 4/13/2016 | Jazz | 42 | 60 | 22-of-50 | 4 | 4 |
| Michael Jordan | Wizards | 4/16/2003 | 76ers | 28 | 15 | 6-of-15 | 4 | 4 |
| Larry Bird | Celtics | 5/17/1992 | Cavaliers (PS) | 33 | 12 | 6-of-9 | 5 | 4 |
| Allen Iverson | 76ers | 2/20/2010 | Bulls | 29 | 13 | 5-of-13 | 1 | 3 |
| Reggie Miller | Pacers | 5/19/2005 | Pistons (PS) | 33 | 27 | 11-of-16 | 2 | 2 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Lakers | 6/13/1989 | Pistons (PS) | 29 | 7 | 2-of-8 | 3 | 3 |
| Charles Barkley | Rockets | 4/19/2000 | Grizzlies | 6 | 2 | 1-of-3 | 1 | 1 |
(courtesy: Basketball-Reference.com, PS = Playoffs)
Bryant's legendary performance crushed the previous record for most points scored in a player's career finale, which was held by someone you probably didn't expect.
So Kobe shattered the record for most points scored in a Career Finale. Where are the Crying Jordan Crawford memes?🤔 pic.twitter.com/ebbFHr4SKA
— Mike Goldfarb (@Shaqtin_A_Fool) April 14, 2016