Kobe Bryant News: Various Sports Personalities Pay Tribute to Bryant During 'Mamba Day'
On Wednesday, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant played his final game in the NBA, after two decades of actively donning the Purple and Gold jersey.
Dubbed as "Mamba Day" by NBA fans, Bryant did not disappoint and ended his career in style, as the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz at home, with a final score of 101-96.
During the post-game festivities, Bryant was not able to keep himself from being emotional, as he addressed the crowd in attendance at the Staples Center, all of whom were present to pay their tribute to the man that has brought five NBA titles to their beloved franchise.
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"This is absolutely crazy ... and to be standing at center court with you guys, my teammates behind me, appreciating the journey that we've been on -- we've been through our ups, been through our downs," Bryant said. "I think the most important part is we all stayed together throughout."
"The Black Mamba" went on to point out how he was a "die hard Laker fan" as a kid growing up, and ended his speech thanking the crowd for the years of support, motivation, and inspiration.
"What can I say? Mamba out," Bryant said, before handing over the microphone.
As "Mamba Day" approached, many of his contemporaries in the sporting world paid their own little tributes to Bryant, a man who was once heavily criticized, put under the spotlight by personal problems made public, and now ending his career as a beloved icon of basketball.
In a video tribute by Nike Basketball, the likes of Roger Federer and Serena Williams had nothing but positive words for Bryant.
"He always played because he loved the sport, not for any other reason," said Williams. Federer, on the other hand, comically admits that he once used Bryant's name as an emoji, using "Ko" and the bee image.
A number of UFC fighters, namely Rashad Evans, Anderson Silva, and Daniel Cormier also showed their appreciation towards Bryant's accomplishments.
