Kobe would love to play at Rio Games, fitness permitting

To an entire generation of NBA fans, you are basketball. Displaying vintage moves with pull-up and fadeaway jumpers before a crowd roaring his every move with approval, the 20-year veteran efficiently scored in the first half while leaving enough energy left for the fourth quarter.

During the Heat-Thunder game on Thursday night, Dwyane Wade said that in November, Kobe Bryant tipped him off about retirement plans in a roundabout way. Bryant responded by hitting a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and then following up with the jumper over Beal.

After the game ended, Bryant walked to midcourt to give a smile and a hug to Kyle Korver, a 13th-year veteran, in an exchange of mutual admiration.

Bryant described the meeting with Obama as “inspirational” and said the two talked basketball and focused on “the future”. “Even though my body is sore, this moment is not coming again”. It will be Bryant’s last game in Phillips Arena and the Hawks. Hands down this would go in the history books as one of the greatest match ups of all time and easily one of the best series to ever happen. Walking down the tunnel and so forth. On more than one occasion, Bryant made the extra pass. Unfortunately, though, the Lakers simply could not throw the ball in the ocean on this night and finished shooting 37.2 percent for the game. Celtics fans are writing “I hate you but-” goodbye letters, teams are making tributes; I’m waiting for Charles Barkley to put his foot in his mouth. Rookie D’Angelo Russell was aggressive but struggled as well, shooting 6-of-16.

“… Got to get some better shots than that”, Scott added, “but other than that, just got to keep playing. It was kind of cool”, Scott said. “It’s disappointing after the way we’ve played, last night and even the Toronto game”. You’d think that the fractured knee last season and the ruptured Achilles the season before might’ve given him hints that it’s time to let his jersey hang from the rafters at Staples Center now, but very few athletes know how to exit the spotlight gracefully.

Bryant, who announced his retirement Sunday, scored 18 points in the first half and 12 in the fourth quarter for the Lakers (3-15). “He said, ‘That’s good, coach”. The two spent last season laughing and joking throughout their January game in Los Angeles.

Hawks: Teague handed out five assists to pass Wilkins on the franchise career list….