Lakers: Kobe Told Byron Scott About Retirement Mid-Game

“We can’t take a step forward and then a step back”.

The Kobe Bryant farewell tour now rolls through Atlanta. “When I have my legs, I can go for that shot”, Bryant told reporters.

“We don’t have the same personality”, Bryant said.

If the Lakers ended up somehow beating the Suns and eventually the Spurs on their way to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, it would have been the show of the century. Al Horford paced Atlanta with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists. He’s shooting an abysmal 31.1% from the field and an very bad 22.2% from three-point range.

Atlanta, on the other hand, have different plans and are looking to bounce back after losing to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, 96-86 after blowing a 17-point, third-quarter lead. “Unfortunately, the game slipped away from us in the last three minutes”. “It’s hard when you let yourself get down like that”.

Adding a top rookie next year, which according to Fansided could be Ben Simmons, a year of growth for their phenomenal youngsters Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and D’Angelo Russell, and the possible addition of Durant would arguably make L.A. instant title contenders next year.

“This is my hometown, so it was nice to be part of Kobe’s last go-around here and see the outpouring for him”, Williams said.

Scott was understandably caught off guard and says Bryant delivered the news rather bluntly. Atlanta finished with 24 assists, one less than their season average that ranks second in the National Basketball Association.

Now that the announcement is out, Bryant has officially written his goodbye to basketball via The Players Tribune, players and fans are crying out their sincerest goodbyes. G Tim Hardaway Jr., acquired from the New York Knicks for their first-round pick on draft night, was assigned by the Hawks to Canton of the NBA Development League.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (12-9): Atlanta traded off wins and losses in each of its last eight games, scoring over 100 points in each of the wins and failing to hit the mark in the four losses.

Brooklyn lost its seventh straight game on the road, their longest slide since ending the 2010-11 with seven losses.

DALLAS – James Harden poured in 18 of his game-high 25 points, including a backbreaking step-back jumper with 7.4 seconds, which sealed the win over Dallas.