Philadelphia beat Lakers for the first win of season

Anthony said having the chance to play with Bryant was the main reason why he even considered the Lakers. The Sixers also snapped their 28-game losing streak as this young group of guys, including rookie Jahlil Okafor, have been inching close to a win over the last five games before this win.

The Sixers had lost their first 18 games this season, matching the record for worst start in National Basketball Association history.

But James said it still nagged at him that he had never managed to face Bryant and the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant doesn’t have much left in the tank, and has, as we all know, announced that this will be his final year.

It would be fitting for the Lakers to further reward that loyalty by allowing him to help mold a struggling franchise back to its former glory.

Bryant hit his first two shots from three-point distance, and three of his first four on the way to scoring his team’s first 11 points.

The 37-year-old finished with 20 points on a dismal 7-of-26 from the field and 4-of-17 from beyond the arc.

Bryant made three early triples, but it was brick city from there.

As stated, this was always going to be a special moment for Bryant as he played his final game in his hometown.

Bryant said he looked up to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Jerry West and Michael Jordan growing up, but was pretty diplomatic when asked who if he could beat Jordan in a one-on-one game. “You’ve got to roll with it. It’s all good”.

“When we first met I was just a kid”.

“He’ll tell me, ‘I just don’t have legs, ‘” Scott said.

“I believe in players who have a positive attitude to play”.

The 76ers now have a record of 1-18 on the season, and Los Angeles is not far behind them with a record of 2-15 this year, according to USA Today. Aside from a second half reverse layup that was vintage Mamba, though, Bryant couldn’t keep up the pace he established in the game’s first quarter.