Bryant recalls ‘most lovely memory’ at TD Garden

“It was great. It was great”.

Bryant had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Celtics 112-104 on Wednesday night.

Bryant’s latest stop on his retirement tour took him to Boston, site of many Lakers-Celtics battles, including two NBA Finals for the Lakers star. The last game of the series was a complete annihilation in Boston which Bryant still says was the worst loss of his career and still haunts him to this day. “She was crying, she was mad”. “Understanding Boston’s history, the players, many different players, championships won, this place is always special to me”.

“Honestly, if I could cheer for (the Boston fans) I would”, he said. And as it has been all season for him, what the fans wanted and what he can deliver is just a few turn-back-the-clock moments a night. “That’s the kind of profound impact this building has had”. So after Jordan Clarkson softened them up with 24 points, Kobe scored nine in the second half of the fourth quarter, including the dagger that sealed the Lakers’ win. The 37-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of the season-his 20th in the league.

They booed when he shot a free throw.

Then, in the final minute, chants of “Ko-be” and “Ko-be Bryant” roared through the crowd.

“One thing we can trust as sports fans is you can trust the sports gods are going to line these teams up again”, Bryant said. “It felt great to get booed”. He’s a better shooter and defender, and knows how to impact games when the ball isn’t in his hands. Over these last six games, Thomas is averaging 21.8 points and is shooting 63.0% from three-point range (17-for-27).

Bryant, who it just 5-of-18 field goals, then stepped up and buried his straight-away triple for a five-point lead that effectively sealed the victory.

Bryant is the all-time leader in points scored for the Lakers with 32,928 (and counting) career points. “I’ve always loved it. It’s a little weird, isn’t it?” He’s a great player. “I think we can play better than we’ve played; we’ve had some offensive ruts that we have to cure”.

Bryant made a flashback spin move on Bradley, a quality defender, as part of the big run in the third.

“I look at it really objectively when I go to the film”, he said.

The Celtics’ contingent, which included president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, co-owner Steve Pagliuca, and team president Rich Gotham, gave Bryant a framed plaque that included a piece of the former arena’s court surface, a picture of Bryant near center court and a notation of the games he played in Boston.

“I don’t think we anxious about (Bryant) coming back to the Garden for the last time”, said Celtics swingman Evan Turner, who had 20 points and eight assists off the bench. “I was determined and said, ‘Listen, I have to figure a solution and do whatever is necessary”.

I went on to explain in more general terms that the players are still human beings and they should be good sports and be nice to other teams when they are playing against them.