Surrounded by gold and purple balloons and a confetti-covered floor, Kobe waved farewell to the sold-out crowd and left the court to roaring applause. Being the fan-friendly star he always has, Kobe gave high fives to fans as he made his way off the court, smiling wide knowing the epic performance he had just concluded his career with.
But while Kobe held it together during his final game and the ceremonious celebration of his legacy, it seemed his last walk-off may have been one of the most emotional points of the night. He was smiling, but Kobe definitely looked like he was about to cry! Can you blame him, though?! Take a look at the pic below!
To add to the emotional moment, Kobe gave a heartfelt thank you speech to the fans before leaving the court. “Thank you guys for all the years of of support, for all year years of motivation, for the inspiration….This has been absolutely beautiful, I can’t believe its come to an end. You guys will always be in my heart, I sincerely, sincerely appreciate it. No words can describe how I feel. Thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart, God I love you guys.” And in classic Kobe fashion, he finished with an epic mic drop: “What can I say? Mamba out!”
Mamba may be out, but certainly not forgotten. Tons of big-name athletes and celebs gave Kobe a shout-out before he took the court one last time, proving the huge impact he made on fans throughout his career. As the third highest scorer in NBA history, he clearly made the same impact on the game — and with a 60-point game to wrap it all up, we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way for Kobe to be sent off! We’ll miss you, Kobe!
HollywoodLifers, what’s your favorite Kobe moment? Send your love to Kobe as he officially begins his retirement!