Kobe Bryant suited up for one final game in San Antonio, as the Los Angeles Lakers traveled to play the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday evening.
As has been a trend this season, Bryant's final game in an arena has featured a ceremony celebrating the impact of "the Michael Jordan of our generation," as Spurs guard Tony Parker said in the video that played in the arena.
The video tribute also featured the Spurs' "Big Three" along with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Watch the entire video below:
Thank You, @kobebryant. #KB20https://t.co/dg7iobdKnZ — San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) February 7, 2016
"Kobe's uniqueness lies in his uncommon ability to compete at the highest level night after night after night, and there aren't too many people who can do that," Popovich said in the video. "He's obviously skilled, but his professionalism and being responsible enough to do that on a nightly basis has always astounded me."
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Bryant took in the tribute from the bench with a humble smile and thanked the San Antonio crowd afterwards. The locals gave Bryant a standing ovation as he was announced as a five-time champion and two-times NBA Finals by the Spurs' P.A. announcer.
Kobe says he would have loved to have played for Pop for a simple reason: "We would have won a lot of championships." — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 6, 2016
Bryant's farewell tour took a bit of a break following a final game in Oakland on Jan. 14 and a farewell game in Portland on Jan. 23. While the Golden State Warriors rolled out the red carpet with a video that featured Jerry West, the Portland Trail Blazers did not show Bryant any extra recognition.
#Respect #KB20 pic.twitter.com/OvFDyzfVp8 — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 7, 2016
Former Blazer and Laker, Mychal Thompson said he thought the Blazers had disrespected Bryant by introducing him as though the Lakers and Blazers were playing a "preseason game." Thompson made his comments on the Lakers' radio broadcast prior to the game, as the Lakers' radio color commentator commended the Spurs on their presentation.
Bryant will next say farewell to Indiana on Monday and Cleveland on Wednesday, before traveling to Toronto and taking part in one final All-Star Weekend. In each of those stops, one would expect Bryant will be honored and celebrated.
