Kobe Bryant Waves Farewell to Boston

You don’t really feel the culture and our history.

Me (stunned and impressed): “Well yes, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. The green and white (the Celtics) are wearing, I’m not really fond of”.

“It’s right up there with Philadelphia in terms of most emotional”, Bryant said afterward about where Boston ranked among road venues.

When word got out that Danny Ainge had swung a deal with the Timberwolves to bring Kevin Garnett to Boston, all of New England and Celtics fans worldwide were ecstatic. When Kobe touched the ball he was booed, and when he made shots he was cheered. “I don’t remember the loss as a painful experience or a frightful experience”. The smell of the grass, the sound of the crowd, the dizzying height of the stands. “I always remember the beauty of it; at the time not so much (laughs)”. “Understanding Boston’s history, the players, many different players, championships won, this place is always special to me”.

“I put it on and I went out and D.J”.

I was not around for numerous great Celtics teams, but Boston basketball has been one of the most important things in my life for much of Kobe Bryant’s time in the NBA. But that doesn’t mean he can’t hit the rewind button every now and then. He waved to the crowd as he walked down the runway to the locker room, with the fans cheering and chanting his name.

The Celtics also received an early look into where the Lakers are headed following Bryant’s retirement. “Why would you do that to me?!” Which led to an amusing exchange. We can cleanse a little bit of a record.

Wife (smiling): “All the points count the same though!”

“I’ve known Paul since he was in Kansas”, he said.

In Dallas, Golden State flopped without Stephen Curry, getting blown out for just its second loss of the season behind 23 points from Dallas’ J.J. Barea.

Except that this wasn’t a normal game and it wasn’t a normal crowd. His Lakers are now the worst team in the Western Conference.

My kids were a prime target for the jumbotron because they were decked out in Celtics gear and dancing during each timeout. Still, the he Lakers led by two points at the break. Being able to say “thank you” to the fans – it was a lovely moment.

When Bryant entered the league in 1996, he had a deep appreciation for the Celtics franchise. “He knew the Celtics probably better than most Celtics did at 17 years old….”

“We knew [Bryant] was good and all, but we didn’t know he was going to be the player he turned out to be”, Cowens added. Sometimes the Lakers are going to win.

Bryant said he still gets cold sweats when he hears songs such as “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins, which became a signature pregame song during the Celtics’ recent Big Three era.