Kobe Bryant bids emotional farewell in final All Star appearance

It is because Bryant understands all that and is at peace with it. The rage is gone. No team had scored 90 or more points in a half in All-Star Game history, but with the West leading 92-90, both teams did so in the first half.

Russell Westbrook put up 23 shots on his way to his second-straight MVP.

“It feels so good to be able to speak to them about the game and to be able to share some of the knowledge that I have learned throughout my career to them so that they can carry on the tradition of the National Basketball Association and hopefully play 20 years themselves”. “I don’t take it for granted”.

Curry added 26 for the West – the final three on a 42-footer.

“There was a little imaginary tug of war for that ball and the decision whether to shoot or not”, Curry said. It’s the most media coverage that we’re going to get and we have all the greatest athletes, all the greatest fans here in one venue and it’s always an honor to be here. In 20 years there he established himself as one of the greats of the game, but also left questions about how many titles he could have won if he only could have gotten along with Shaquille O’Neal.

“When you get that opportunity versus a great man”, James said, “you just have fun with it”.

“I just want to thank you guys for all your support all these years”, Bryant told the “Ko-be!” chanting crowd.

Paul George of the Indiana Pacers finished with 41 points, including an all-star game record nine three-pointers, one point off the all-star game record held by Wilt Chamberlain. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James scored 13 points for the East to squeak past Bryant in All-Star scoring with 291 points to Bryant’s 290. George attempted to get the record a few times in the closing possessions, but Gregg Popovich inserted Draymond Green to lock him down and made sure that Anthony Davis was lying in wait to snuff out any attempts at the rim. “He’s been such an iconic figure for so long, and he passes it on to that other group of young guys that you saw out there tonight”. John Wall added 22 points.

Westbrook, who made seven 3s, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out five assists, admitted he was inspired by Bryant.

Appearing on his 12th All Star game, James knows however that this is the stage where the greats come together and try to give fans a show.

“We all at one point in our life wanted to be Kobe in our driveways somewhere”, the East’s Dwyane Wade said.

But while watching Kobe, it became pretty apparent that the National Basketball Association will be OK without him.

In last year’s 163-158 West win in New York, Westbrook registered 41 points as a reserve and set an All-Star Game record for points in a half by scoring 27 in the first half.

But as far as tributes go, the NBA’s first foray outside the United States delivered plenty of substance, a Kobe Bean Bryant love fest from start to finish. “It’s all well-deserved”.

With the Western Conference nearing the 200-point mark and final seconds ticking away, Curry and the Thunder’s Kevin Durant engaged in a brief conversation near half-court as the Eastern Conference defense backed away.